What is the purpose of Service-Learning?

The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education defines the primary mission of Service–Learning Programs as “engaging students in experiences that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities for reflection intentionally designed to promote student learning and development.”

Montgomery College has been actively engaged in the development and establishment of a service-learning program for students at the college. Over the past three years numerous faculty have included a service-learning opportunity in their syllabus and Offices of Volunteerism and Service-Learning have been established on each campus.

These offices place students in local community organizations to address service-learning classroom requirements and out-of-class learning experiences associated with student life programs, to provide opportunities for students to volunteer in the community and to support students wishing to explore possible career choices. This past fall semester the program placed over 600 service-learning students in community organizations in Montgomery County and surrounding areas as part of a classroom requirement. This semester service-learning is also being incorporated into First Year Experience classes and a variety of other opportunities for students.

There are three components to a Service-Learning Experience.

For those of you new to this learning method – students are placed in community organizations for a specific number of hours. This experience is designed to address both the need of the academic discipline and the community. Active reflection about the experience and its relationship to discipline material is the key component of the learning process.

Student outcomes generally include, among others, active engagement with class material, a deeper understanding of community issues, a clearer understanding of concept and application, an opportunity for community based research, and the opportunity to see oneself as an agent of change.

Resources

Getting Results - http://www.league.org/publication/learning/edition.cfm

The Getting Results faculty professional development modules, produced by WGBH in Boston with support from the National Science Foundation, have been available to community college faculty for a year, and WGBH and the League want to know what you think. Read more about Getting Results and find out how to provide feedback in the March issue of Learning Abstracts.

Contact Lucy.Vitaliti@montgomerycollege.edu 240-567-1527

On Line Application -   

                                                   Apply on line, save time and paper.   servicelearning.bravehost.com 

Forms

steps to follow for volunteering.docx

Explains what steps you should take when volunteering or starting to do service-learning. This provides resources and details about how to get the most out of your experience! You will find the forms mentioned in the document below, on this page.

MC - Release form.doc

This form protects you and the college in case of an emergency.

 volunteer profile.docx

Please fill this out and return it to the Office of Volunteerism and Service-Learning (ST 216 or 221).

time sheet.docx

Please print and use this form to keep track of your hours.  When you are finished please return it to the Office of Volunteerism and Service-Learning (ST 216 or 221).

MC - Volunteerism Reflection Paper.doc 

Please answer these questions and return to the Office of Volunteerism and Service-Learning (ST 216 or 221).