Afterschool Programs and Service-Learning

21st CCLC Summit, 2013

Dr. Richard Bradley, Ph.D.6670 Hayhurst StreetWorthington, OH614-570-5514creativityrb@yahoo.com

My best learning experience ever …

In which environment would you rather teach and learn?

What a typical high school classroom looks like today…

What are schools like?

Best Practices for High Functioning Afterschool

ProgramsA study of 53 high functioning 21st CCLC programs found that these programs:1. Have clear goals2. Utilize research-based activities based on these

goals3. Link school-day and afterschool activities

4. Utilize research-based curricula and teaching strategies5. Are characterized by positive learning environments6. Promote youth engagement through motivational strategies that engage youth in learning activities7. Are characterized by effective management, support and resources8. Provide opportunities for youth to practice skills they are learning9. Include program monitoring and reset goals annually based on assessment results.

Best Practices for High Functioning Afterschool Programs

Good classroom management Honoring diversity Class and school size Democratic classroom/school Participation in service-learning and/or other

extracurricular activities Personalization Relevant curriculum Culture of revision and redemption Authentic assessments Real leadership and responsibility

Reconnecting Kids to Schoolsand Communities

DVD

Discussion

What is Service-Learning?

Service-Learning Is an educational strategy Involves students in meaningful service to their schools

and/or communities Engages students in some form of reflection and/or study

related to their service.

Well designed service-learning projects connect with, reinforce, enrich, and enhance what students learn in the classroom by providing them with opportunities to apply classroom content and skills to address real-world problems.

Definition of Service-Learning

Meaningful service – activity engage participants in meaningful and personally relevant service activities.

Curriculum Links – intentionally used as an instructional strategy that connects learning goals and/or content standards.

Reflection – incorporates multiple challenging reflective activities that are ongoing and prompt deep thinking about oneself and one’s relationship to society.

Diversity – promotes understanding of diversity and mutual respect among all participants.

K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice (www.nylc.com)

Youth voice - youth have a strong voice in planning, implementing, and evaluating their service experience.

Partnerships – involve collaborative, mutually beneficial partnerships that address community needs.

Progress monitoring – participants engage in an ongoing process to access implementation quality and progress towards meeting goals and use results for program improvement and sustainability.

Duration and intensity – have sufficient duration and intensity to address community needs and meet learning and service goals.

K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice (www.nylc.com)

Community Service Service-Learning

• Typically does not have an academic component

• Usually planned by adults

• Learning occurs but may not be intentional

• Reflection is not usually included

• Example: students take part in community-wide park clean up event developed by the mayor’s office

• Includes an academic component

• Youth are involved in planning through brainstorming and group discussions

• Intentional learning about the issue(s) involved in service

• Reflection is an essential element

• Example: students in a MS science class or an after school program learn about habitat preservation, then help to preserve habitat in a nearby park

How Community Service and Service-Learning Differ

Two ways to do projects: Group Individual

Three kinds of projects: Direct Indirect Advocacy or Civic Action

Types of Service-Learning Projects

Personal and interpersonal development – students: Show increases in personal and social responsibility and

sense of educational competence Perceive themselves to be more socially competent Report increased self-esteem and self-efficacy Show reduced levels of alienation, behavioral issues and

have fewer disciplinary referrals Less likely to engage in a wide range of “risky” behaviors Were better able to trust and be trusted by others, be

reliable, and responsible

Benefits of Service-Learning

Showed greater acceptance of cultural diversity and improved attitudes about helping others

Showed increased awareness of community needs, believed they could make a difference and were committed to future service

Were better able to come up with realistic solutions to problems and understand how to take steps to address them

Were more connected with their schools/communities Showed improved leadership skills

Benefits of Service-Learning

Academic impacts of service-learning: Moderate to strong gains on student achievement tests

and math and language arts (GPAs also improved) Higher scores on state tests of basic skills Scored higher on all academic measures – mastery of

course content, problem-solving skills and attitudes toward learning

Were more academically engaged and more attached to their schools and communities

Showed significant gains in attendance and positive school behaviors

Benefits of Service-Learning

Other service-learning impacts: Students show greater gains in career-related skills

communication skills, and positive increases in career exploration knowledge

Positive improvements in school climate Youth who participate in service-learning programs are

viewed by the community as valued resources and contributors

Benefits of Service-Learning

Afterschool programs: Offer mentors to guide students in developing service-

learning projects for their schools and communities. Offer the flexibility (often missing in today’s classrooms)

for students to apply classroom knowledge and skills to address problems and issues in their community.

Enable students to become leaders by providing opportunities for their voices and ideas to be heard and utilized.

When linked to in-school learning, help students gain self-confidence and respect as agents of change

How Afterschool Programs are Promoting Service-Learning

Step 1: Investigate – What’s out there? What are we already doing? W hat issues do we care about? What talents, skills, abilities and resources do we have?

Step 2: Research/Prepare – What do we need to know to become “experts” on our issue? Where can we get that information? What are the curriculum connections?

Step 3: Plan/Act – What, who, how, when, where, etc.

Moving from “good” community service to quality service-learning

Step 4: Reflect – How are we doing? What’s working? What’s not working? Where do we need help? Anything need to be changed or modified? What are we learning? In what ways does this connect with the classroom? What are we going to do all this information?

Step 5: Demonstrate – How will we share the results of our service project with others (e.g., peers, other students, adults, elected officials, the media, etc.)?

Moving from “good” community service to quality service-learning

Media – 60-minute newspaper search

Observation – Community walk-about, Journaling for Social Action

Surveys – classmates, community members to find out what’s on their minds

Interviews – explore community partner needs – is anybody “out there” already doing what we want to do

Curriculum links/grant goals – reinforce, enrich and enhance!!!

From an idea to a project…

Cathryn Berger Kaye (2010). The complete guide to service-learning (2nd Ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Press

GenerationOn – www.generationon.org – lots of great resources and ideas

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse – www.servicelearning.org

When all else fails … try a “Google” search – service-learning and afterschool programs, etc.

Some Resources

The Office of 21st CCLC is sponsoring regional, two-day service-learning training workshops: Central Region – February 19-20, Delaware County

Developmental Disabilities Center NE Region – February 27-28, Polaris Career Center NW Region – March 4-5, NW Ohio Educational Service

Center SE Region – March 7-8, University of Rio Grande SW Region – March 11-12, Humana, Cincinnati

For more information contact your regional coordinator.

Opportunities to learn more about service-learning