"PK-12 Partnerships That Meet University and School Objectives "

"PK-12 Partnerships ThatMeet University and School Objectives" © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Margaret-Mary Sulentic EBR Parish Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services Area 1 © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Deborah Normand Service-Learning English Instructor and Assistant Director of CCELL © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Jean Rohloff Service-Learning English Instructor and Assistant Director of CCELL © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

THE KEY QUESTIONS © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? • What are EBRPS' needs? • What are the orientation concerns? • How do LSU faculty manage risks? • How do LSU faculty avoid overwhelming EBRPS? • How can LSU faculty ensure meaningful service? • How can LSU faculty provide closure? • What are the assessment strategies? © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Jean © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Placements © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

English students tutor at Melrose Elementary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

. . . And Westdale Elementary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Math students tutor at Buchanan, Eden Park, Magnolia Woods, Polk and South Blvd. Elementary Schools © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Spanish students tutor at South Blvd. Elementary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Projects © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Biological Engineering students designed and built playground at Polk Elementary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Chemistry students do demonstrations at various elementary schools © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Entomology students present insect collections to area schools © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

And “In Between” © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Kinesiology students do brain function demonstrations at Istrouma Middle, Westdale and Nicholson Elementary Schools © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

CCELL Director Jan Shoemaker presents mini-grant award to Glasgow Middle School © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

. . . And at Melrose Elementary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

What are EBRPs’s needs? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Margaret-Mary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Sustainable community partnerships • Faculty who are willing to engage on a long-term basis • One-to-one connections • Literacy • Facility needs • Math/science © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

What are the orientation concerns? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Jean © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Orientation “Between” School & LSU Faculty Should: • Establish a strong reciprocal partnership • Familiarize the school with the students’ skills and expected duties • Identify school’s need and plan to meet it • Communicate the goals and objectives of the course • Establish the school’s and LSU students roles and responsibilities • Determine school’s expectations and requirements for the service project © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

LSU Faculty Can Facilitate Partner Orientation by: • Meeting with school representative before course • Attending school orientation or in-service meetings • Having school representatives review & sign contract • Providing partner with course syllabus & other important documents . . . . BUT © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Orientation of LSU Students Should: • Acquaint students with the community/area of school (diversity issues) • Introduce students to the school (representative, students) • Describe the nature of the service • Provide students with necessary skills • Clarify students’ roles, responsibilities, & risks • Connect the learning goals with the service • Address concerns, fears, and expectations © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

LSU Instructor Can Orient LSU Students by: • Giving overview of program, course and service • Outlining learning objectives and their connection to service (syllabus) • Presenting guidelines and requirements of service work (time log? deadline?) • Bringing in former students • Answering questions; anticipating apprehensions and concerns Repeat as necessary . . . © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Makeup of community Rules of conduct Dress code Confidentiality Risks and risk protocol Contact information Duties and tasks Tour or map of facility Parking Safety precautions Hours of operation, holidays School Representatives Can Give LSU Students Information about: © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Some Orientation Resources • Volunteers in Public Schools does excellent in-class orientations, especially for tutoring • The CCELL web site (Faculty & Student sections) has many resources for working in public schools © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

How to manage risks? Deborah © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

CCELL’s Philosophy • To protect its human and financial assets through the practice of effective risk management • To protect the safety and dignity of students, faculty, community partners and anyone who has contact with the service-learning program © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Risk Management Goals • To do no harm to students, faculty, or community partners • To provide a safe environment for students and staff • To substantiate and maintain the trust of those partners © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Steps to Effective Risk Management • Identify risks • Evaluate and prioritize risks • Manage risks • Review risks © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Remember to • Remind student and community partners that handbooks are at www.ccell.lsu.edu (or give them copies) • Require students to have community partners sign partnership agreement • Encourage students to purchase student insurance if they do not have private insurance © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

How do LSU faculty avoid overwhelming EBRPS? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Margaret-Mary © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Considerate time frames • Considerate placements • Adherence to EBR policies, procedures, and practices • Faculty who accompany their students © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

How can LSU faculty insure meaningful service? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Deborah © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Opportunities for Meaningful Service • Provide multiple opportunities for reflection • Use the ORID model to move students from reflection to metacognition: *Class discussions *Journals *Progress reports *Presentations to partners *Final exam reflective questions © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

How do LSU faculty provide closure for all involved? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Jean © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Closure with the School Should: • Provide an opportunity for assessment • Elicit suggestions for future projects • Communicate faculty & student appreciation • Prepare school students for end of service (especially for one-on-one relationships) © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Project: finalize or deliver project • Placement: assign a group or class project (collage, group writing project, video, PowerPoint) • Have LSU students write thank-you notes to school students, faculty & staff • Write a thank-you note to school • Compile a booklet of journal entries or assignments for school (respect confidentiality) • Conduct evaluations of the placement or project • Encourage LSU students to plan and/or participate in a culminating event at the site (parties, field trips, ribbon cutting) © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

What are the assessment strategies? What is the LSU-EBRPS connection? Deborah © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Assessment that Counts! • Encourage students to complete Student Partner Survey • Encourage community partners to complete Community Partner Survey • Read end-of-the-year reports on both surveys • Contact CCELL staff with suggestions and questions © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

Resources • www.ccell.lsu.edu • www.ebrpss.k12.la.us • jshoema@lsu.edu • dnormand@lsu.edu • jrohlof@lsu.edu • msulentic@ebrschools.org © LSU Center for Community Engagement Learning and Leadership

"PK-12 Partnerships That Meet University and School Objectives "