Year Five Concurrent Education Biidaaban Community Service-Learning Student Placement

1. Year Five Concurrent Education Biidaaban Community Service-Learning Student Placement

2. What is Biidaaban? • Pronounced Bee-daw-bun • Its Ojibwe meaning is ‘the point at which the light touches the earth at the break of dawn’ • It symbolizes the beginning of a new partnership designed to enhance the lives of our students and communities both locally and around the province

3. What Is Community Service- Learning? “An educational approach integrating theory taught in the classroom with real-world experience in the local community” • Through service work in the community, students connect theory and practical application • Opportunity to contribute to the community while expanding your knowledge • Opportunity to expand your understanding of education and how people learn

4. Community Service Learning CSL

5. Why Community Service-Learning? • Opportunity to understand new avenues for applying your developing skills as teachers • A Chance to explore the range of services available in the community • Challenges each student’s ability to adapt and respond to changing conditions • Allows you to explore an area of interest that is not available through other placements

6. What Does CSL Mean to Communities? • Opportunity to influence learning • Extra helping hands • Opportunity to help prepare students for rigors of the work world • Locally, it is an opportunity to partner with Nipissing University

7. Where can I seek placement and what is expected of me? • You may choose to do your BCSL Placement in North Bay, back home, or any location in Ontario where an approved placement is available • Any agency that works with children, youth, or adults in an educational or advocacy role • A placement averages 6 working hours per day for a total of 120 hours over four weeks • It does not have to be accomplished through traditional school hours, but can be whichever hours work best for the community partner and yourself

8. How Do I Secure BCSL Student Placement? • You will find your own placement, but will still need approval from the BCSL Office • Look for volunteer opportunities in the area you would like to stay for the 4 week timeframe • Be as direct as possible when trying to find a placement Phone calls and in person meetings may work better than email communications • Present your Student Handbook when you meet with your potential placement Supervisor. Point out the letter and two evaluations required for your placement (page 10 and 12-15) • If you are having difficulty securing a placement, the BCSL Office can be of some assistance

9. Where Can I Do A BCSL Student Placement? YMCA Big Brothers/Big Sisters Community Care Access Detention Centers Hospitals – Pediatric or Geriatric Care Reform Schools Alternative Schools e.g., School for the Deaf Native Cultural Centers Literacy Councils Library Literacy Programs Community Tutoring Services Homeless Shelters/Outreach Programs Children’s Aid Society

10. BCSL Placements in North Bay • One Kids Place • Providing Adults with Developmental Disabilities Lifelong Experiences (PADDLE) • Literacy Council • North Bay Police Service (NBPS) • North Bay Indian Friendship Centre (NBIFC) Send your resume to Mair Greenfield and I will send it to the appropriate Supervisor, for review

11. Your Placement Must NotBe: • With a family member • With a former teacher • In a place you have previously worked or volunteered

12. What Is The Role of The BCSL Office? • Confirm suitability of placement option • Overall placement monitoring and coordination • Act as a point of contact for students and placement supervisors should any questions or concerns arise before during or after the placement • Provide information to Site Supervisor; including your contact information, WSIB information, placement information and dates

13. Student • ‘Information Form’ • (page 11) must be completed and given to the BCSL Office by • November 1, 2013 • Fax • Email • Mail • In my office (A212)

14. Confirmation of your Placement Your BCSL placement will be confirmed after your Placement Supervisor has been contacted to: • Establish a method of communication directly with your Service-Learning Supervisor during your placement • Ensure that your teaching skills will be valued and used • Ensure that the placement is in a safe and professionally monitored environment • You will receive a confirmation email by November 22, 2013, once the above has been completed

15. Expectations and Deadlines • November 1, 2013: Hand in completed BCSL ‘Information Form’ (page 11) by to the BCSL Office • By November 22, 2013: Expect placement confirmation via email from BCSL Office • December 6, 2013: Hand in completed Police Background Check (PBC) to Sandra Minor • By December 13, 2013: Student will contact Placement Supervisor by to ensure a start date and firm up missing details • January 13, 2014: Start your placement • January 24, 2014: Week Two Evaluation (pages 12 & 13) • February 7, 2014: Week Four Evaluation (pages 14 & 15) • Complete 120 Community Service- Learning hours over 4 weeks

16. ALL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO MAIR GREENFEILD IN THE BCSL OFFICE NOT SANDRA MINOR

17. Learn, Reflect, Have Fun Contact: Mair Greenfield Office: A212 Phone: 705-474-3450 ext. 4586 Cell: 705-845-5237 Email: mairg@nipissingu.ca Website: http://www.nipissingu.ca/departments/aboriginal-initiatives/csl/Pages/default.aspx