Service Learning: College of Arts and Sciences Villanova University

1. Service Learning:College of Arts and Sciences Villanova University

2. Why ServiceLearning? • “..because the university needs abundant resources for is subsistence and growth, it has a tendency to situate itself in the world of power: economic, political, or ecclesiastical power…But the most important thing is that this incarnation amid power tends to distance the university form social reality as lived by the poorest and most marginalized. Incarnation in a world of power leads to a disincarnation from the social world of the majority and, in a Christina sense, from the social world most demanded by faith and most apt for living out of Christian inspiration. Ellacuria, Ignacio, John Sobrino. Companions of Jesus. New York: Orbis: 1990, p154

3. “”we as an intellectual community must analyze causes, use imagination and creativity together to discover remedies; communicate to our constituencies a consciousness that inspires the freedom of self-determination: educate professional with a conscience, who will be the immediate instruments of such transformation and continually hone an educational institution that is excellent and ethically oriented.” Ellacuria, Ignacio and John Sobrino. Companions of Jesus. New York: Orbis: 1990, p149.

4. “Service-learning placements also give theology students an entrée into multiple cultural worlds so that they can become conscious of their own cultural biases. It also helps students to avoid the lurking danger of complete relativism, the postmodern mistrust of all meta-narrative and any normativity and the surrender to utiliatarian individualism. “

5. Paul Fitzgerald SJ, “Doing Theology in the City.” Cross Currents vol.51, No.1 spring 2001, p.4 • “The cry of the poor for justice and for bread, as challenging as it may be (especially if is obliges a person to renounce advantage comfort and power voluntarily, gains credibility when It is heard directly from the poor, and form poor people whose humanity has become manifest through sustained conversation.”

6. Service Learning is.. • Pedagogical style which engages students in the community. Students participate in service activity, research or a combination to meet the needs of a poor community as they are defined by that community. Students will integrate that service into their coursework with direction from the faculty member teaching the course. This type of learning requires reflection on their experience in an organized manner through discussion and journals. Students will serve, reflect and give the community the benefits of their study.

8. Service Learning is… • Experiential Education(Dewey-Learning occurs through cycle of action and reflection) • Improve depth of a particular field of knowledge • Improves self directed life long learning

9. Service Learning is Faith and Mission in Action • Making connections to the Mission of the University as it seeks to promote justice in the world. • Caring for the Common Good • Promotes Spiritual Growth • Finding common humanity in diversity through personal connections • Preferential Option for the Poor • Living Catholic Social Teaching • Developing values

10. Service Learning Develops Citizenship ● Requires reflection on issues that concern the community ● Promotes a commitment to improve conditions in the world ● Seeks to increase Community/Political engagement ● Desires Reciprocity ● Develops Leadership

11. And Promotes Ethical and Moral Development • “Judging the quality of a college education by asking if students see the connection between what they learn and how they live, looking for the deeper significance, for the moral dilemmas of and the ethical responses. The college succeeds if it’s graduates are inspired by a larger vision, using the knowledge that have acquired to form values and advance the common good.” (Boyer, page 296)

12. What are the benefits of Service Learning • Student like service Learning. Students value the connection of their passion to their learning: when the personal and the intellectual are connected. Where is the Service in Service Learning. Eyler and Giles • Increased interaction with faculty (Astin & Sax 1998) • Greater relevance of coursework to career clarification (Keen, Keen, 1998) • Stronger commitment to social responsibility (Astin&Sax, Gray,…1999) • Improved ability to think critically about complex problems (Batchelder and Root 1994) • Increased racial understanding (Vogelgesang and Astin) • Increased satisfaction with learning experience (Gray et al 1998) • Spiritual Growth

13. Role of the Office of Service Learning • Provide context for service: Making faculty aware of placement possibilities. • Build community partnerships • Coordinate transportation, reflection sessions outside the classroom, keeping track of student hours of service • Teaching Pure Service Learning Course • Provide service learning pedagogy workshops for faculty • Working with Office of Internships for service learning opportunities • Working with Office of International Studies to Include service learning opportunities for students who wish to study abroad. • Working with disciplines, majors and minors to find programs that fit the needs of the students and their intended careers.

14. What the office can do for faculty? • We hope to offer a three day workshop for faculty • Pedagogy of service learning • Course construction • Meeting community partners and assessing needs • Resources and guidelines for reflection • Guidelines for Assessment

15. Faculty Advisory Council • There is advisory council which will guide and direct the program as it seeks to become and integral part of the College of Arts and Sciences and Villanova University.

16. Student Roles • Making Meaning of the Experience: Students will be trained to facilitate reflection. • Students will become part of community partnership • Students will promote service learning classes

17. Elements of Service Learning Course construction… • Service must be an expressed goal • Describe how the service experience will be measured • Description of placement • Describes how students will demonstrate the knowledge learned in the placement • Service must be linked to course content • Description of reflective process • Expectations of public dissemination of work Heffernan, Kerrissa,Ed.D Fundamental of Service-Learning Course Construction: Campus Compact, 2001, p9

18. Assessment • Faculty • Student • Community Agency • College

19. Sample Course Proposals • Course Title: Peace initiatives and conflict resolution • Course in Peace and Justice on Peace initiative and conflict resolution • Service Internship: Students in above course would be offered an optional service learning experience in Corrymeela, NIor training from the Good Shepherd mediation program in Philadelphia. • Service to local Community: These students would be required to give 3-4 work shops upon return for members of the local community. I.e.: workshop for peaceful conflict resolution for inner city youth, prisoners returning to society (Norristown Hospitality Center) and on campus.

20. Service Learning Course • Goals: Service Learning as pedagogy, exploring the fundamental concepts as well as the effects of praxis and reciprocity on the community. This course will Explore the notion of civic and social responsibility. • Project: Each student in the class would be paired with an Olney High School Student to work on a project with the same theme that would be beneficial to the community. Our students would teach research and writing skills, take Olney students on a tour of the library and research together. (Michelle Grimely, Olney Service Learning) • Reciprocity: Students would present projects at High School and here at Villanova.

21. Other Projects Under Consideration • English Literature: Shared book program • Spanish: Acclamo: Organization supporting farm workers and immigrants • Criminal Justice: Adult Literacy—female juvenile in court system. (this program may be paired with a similar service learning project in London through EUSA) • Partnership with Science and Theatre Magic Program through Math/engineering education with gifted program in Olney public schools • Partnerships with study abroad programs in London, Galway and Northern Ireland. Increase Service Learning study abroad. • Service Learning Internships Catholic Relief Services, PIH • Student teaching on Native American Reservation.

22. More reflections • “The greatest irony is that I had to experience their deprivation and suffering to hear those more subtle sounds of suffering in our own society and lives The greatest beauty is that only through the mutual discovery and relief of suffering, and by the grace of their transcendent, liberating, and redemptive love, can we reach the potential to which humans are called. J. Trufant BSN 01

23. I was overcome with questions. Whose fault is this? What is my role in this situation? Have I contributed to the problem? What is my responsibility to change this? Can I change this? I began to form my own opinions. The poverty, crime, and treatment of the Mexicans are inhumane. Nobody should have to live like that and endure that life. It left me with the question, when and what privileges are we, am I, willing and ready to sacrifice so that million of others can have a decent life. Ryan Vealy, ‘05

24. I am changed forever. I look at all people differently now. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. I see more clearly than ever the widespread apathy and powerlessness that people feel when I comes to social change. It infuriates me, filling my heat with a pain so deep I cannot bear it. It is this pain, which is with me always, which moves me to act. I did not allow myself to be empowered; to experience what real change can happen when people interact with love and good will in their hearts. …I did not want to know how difficult life is for people in South African townships, I didn’t want to know how many of our Villanova University garments are made by women and children in horrible conditions, and I certainly did not want to know how widespread racial discriminating is, from Cape town to Philadelphia. The point is, however, that I am a bettered person for it, I am a changed person. I know that I can fight to change these problems. Actions must come, but it must arise in a knowing mind, a loving heat and a caring spirit. Only then can we be sure we work for everyone. Neil Barratt VU, BA 02

25. Corruption, capitalism and labor exploitation has created this unequal distribution of love and resources. I hope to change this one day. I want to become the president of Venezuela, and one day I will give back to my people what they gave me: sense of belonging in this loving world. B. Singer VU ‘04

26. College of Arts and SciencesOffice of Service Learning • Villanova University • February 2006 • Noreen Cameron • Mary Aiello

27. Student reflections form Service • “..this improved my leadership and communication skills...gave me a whole new perspective on life, taught me that money is not all that matters, and I should live life to the fullest. I am going to open minded, accepting of people, putting huge sums of money back to give back to society and love.

28. Needs • Community Partners • Transportation • Grants and fellowship money for students and faculty. • Faculty incentives for teaching service learning • Web Site • Faculty advisory board