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Service learning experience ideas
Overall service learning experience
Service learning experience ideas
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Introduction
A service learning experience is designed to enhance a student 's growth in personal and social development and to obtain an understanding of community involvement. For my service learning experience, I volunteered at Change Point Center. In this reflection paper, I will discuss in depth information about the services that Change Point provides, my goals while I was there,and what I ultimately learned from this experience.
Information about this experience
Change Point center is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas and is a non-profit organization. The role of the agency is to help women in crisis pregnancies as well as families that face crisis situations. Change Point offers many services that include, free pregnancy
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When I was teaching parenting classes, many of them opened up and told me their stories of why they were there. Most of the clients that received parenting classes are there because they are court ordered to do so. I believe that my personal qualities helped me when hearing their stories to see them as a person, and not judge them for why they were there. I know that with these qualities I was also able fully to engage and help the clients gain the skills for becoming the best parent they can be. I noticed that each client was comfortable to open up to me and fully embrace their session. I do not like to sound cliche, but I do not think that any of my qualities were not used during this learning experience. The staff at the agency really allowed me to use all of my qualities to my best ability in the tasks they had me …show more content…
I enjoyed this experience so much, that I decided to go back to volunteer for Change Point, and will be going there once a week. This experience had the impact it did because I got to connect with the community in which change Point serves and help assist others. By doing this, I gained hands-on experience in which will help me in my future career. I also was able to enhance my skills in being a leader and in communication. The parenting classes that I taught to others not only helped them but also helped me. Each day I was there, I took valuable tools home for myself to be the best mother for my
Selecting to do my service learning at Harvest Hope Food Bank was a very impactful experience. This was so, because of the fact that I have never volunteered at a food bank until now. The organization was able to connect me with the required skills I will practice throughout my career as a professional social worker, therefore better preparing me for assisting clients who may be dependent on my services.
Being in a school that brought students from various counties and cities with different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives, opened my eyes to seeing just how diverse humanity is. In a time when everyone is struggling with personal problems, I know how monumental a simple volunteer act can be. One of my favorite acts of service is tutoring. I tutored an elementary-aged girl for two years in Fort Lee and I will always remember those two years as the most fulfilling. Education is so precious, and children are the most open to it. Not only was I able to teach her math and reading comprehension skills, but how to carry herself as a smart and extraordinarily capable young lady. In return, she taught me patience and how sometimes you just need to approach a problem differently to see the
The functional area of service-learning is currently emerging as an acknowledged department at an institution of higher education. The theoretical roots of service learning go back to John Dewey, and the early twentieth century. However, current research on service-learning pedagogy dates back only to the early 1990’s. Best practices for the field are still being created as more and more new offices are springing up on campuses throughout the United States and institutions internationally. The reason this functional area is becoming ever popular is due to the positive impact it has on students and most all educational outcomes.
Service learning is a rather new concept, but it has proven advantageous in connecting students with their communities when paired with reflection and when included in school curriculum. . Weigert’s (1998) view of ser...
important issues, gain new perspectives and provides learning experiences for volunteers as well as individuals from underserved groups. Because of the numerous benefits, college students should enroll in the Service Learning courses or service learning based programs. These programs allows students to move away from the dualism versus unity point of view and focus on reciprocity and provides the skills necessary to approach future service experiences with a service learning perspective.
People’s lives are changed every day by their actions and experiences. This past summer, I participated in a community service project, an experience that opened my eyes in many ways. I was a volunteer at the County Memorial Hospital. In my time as a volunteer at the hospital, I was able to meet patients and staff members from all over the world and learn about their life experiences. Listening to all of their stories has made me truly appreciate everything which I have.
I felt as if I was able to make a change even though it wasn't a major change. I also loved working with kids of all ages ranging from kindergarten to 8th grade. They all brought a different personality which I enjoyed. Overall, volunteering anywhere helps someone make a change in someones life and their own even though they may not notice it. There are many people who are in need of volunteers all the time and not many people get the opportunity to volunteer during their lifetime.
I came into this class not really knowing any more then people can get insurance and money for food from the human service department. My eyes were definitely opened those first couple weeks of class. I have realized that there is so much more that a human services worker can do. I also learned that most people who use the services are truly desperate and need help. I have learned a lot about seeing the big picture and not just what’s in front of me.
Following participation in an Engaged Department Institute sponsored by Campus Compact, a service-learning requirement was instituted for all majors in the department studied beginning Fall 2002. All faculty were encouraged to incorporate service-learning in their courses. A training session on service-learning was the centerpiece of a departmental retreat in January 2002. In order to develop closer relationships with community agencies, the department hosted a faculty-partnership luncheon the following fall semester. Potential community partners were invited to meet with faculty in an effort to forge new relationships with the University. In order to institutionalize service-learning, all recruitment advertisements specifically mention service-learning and all new hires are expected to include service-learning components in their courses. As a consequence of these efforts, this department has gone from teaching only a few courses with service-learning components to offering twenty five different classes (thirteen courses) by Fall 2002.
I am grateful for the opportunity to volunteer at the elementary school. It opened my eyes to a few of the problems in our communities. I was able to make others aware of those problems through volunteering and being proactive. I am going to continue with the program for as long as I am able to do so. If only we had millions of these programs across the globe, many other children would be able to benefit and develop the skills to succeed educationally.
I want to share the experience that I got from reading to the little kids in Washington school. This had been my first time doing community service so I was a little nervous, I didn't think that the kids where going to like me. But when I go to the school and saw the lovable little kids I felt much better. When we got into little groups and started reading they started hugging me and reading along. They made me feel good and I was ready to come back next Thursday. This was the greatest experience that I had ever had, I felt like a teacher and it fells great to have those little kids liking you.
I think this entire experience has been amazing and everyone should volunteer at least once in their life. It might even change their major! I had already planned on working with my community, specifically in the behavioral/mental health area, so this experience just opened my eyes to how much of a difference I can make by such simple gestures. This class was a way for me to get out of my comfort zone and now I will continue to volunteering even after this class ends. I will be moving to Lexington soon and will find even more volunteer opportunities there! I realize that each community has needs as should everyone else, volunteering can really open your eyes to
This experience helped me to improve my communication and critical thinking skills, it also taught me how to appreciate the work that this organization do for people in our community since I previously believed that charity organizations are not very useful to the community. For example, the overall experience provided me with a natural sense of accomplishment because I now have a better understanding of the value of teamwork, and I now think about what life is like for a group of people that is often ignored: the homeless people. During my volunteering service, I realize the crucial role that this organization play in helping the less privileged and the abused in the
I spent most of my time in a first grade classroom. In this classroom I observed the children as well as the teacher and paraprofessional. This classroom had children with special needs and that is why there was a paraprofessional in the classroom for half the day. What I observed in this classroom was how children with special need should be handle and taught. The teachers in this room loves her job and each student in her class. While in the classroom the teacher allowed me to help with children with their work, read to them and help them with anything else that they needed. During this field experience I got to give back to not only a school, but to a community that is very near and dear to my heart. I hope that I touched each student in a special way, because the students that I got the opportunity to help learn touched my
I also had the privilege of helping with the Meals on Wheels non profit organization. My grandfather used to be a Meals on Wheels recipient and he would share with me how he enjoyed looking forward to their company and a hot meal daily. I volunteered because I wanted to give back and help someone else’s loved one in the same way. It was very rewarding delivering hot meals to people who didn’t have the means of getting one as well as being there for them to talk to. Overall, it was a very humbling experience, it made me realize just how blessed I am and how much I take for granted daily.