Social and CommunityResponsibility

Taking action to make a difference 

Learning Environment

Students will utilize the community as their classroom to learn what their responsibilities are as members of it.

Students will:• Be vital, contributing members to their community• Go to nursing homes or children's hospitals and will connect people

of all different age groups• Go beyond the school/classroom environment and work in the

community• Be more caring and improve their self-worth as they help others• Be in touch with their creative side if they would like to dance for,

create artwork with, play music for, read to, children and senior citizens.

• Be energized and motivated by the difference they are making to those who are receiving their services

 

EEV Key Elements addressed

Descriptions of NETS-S addressed in the Learning Environment

National Educational Technology Standards for Students• Through community service projects students will learn to

effectively communicate and collaborate with others to complete necessary tasks

• Before students start any community service project, they will research the organization they will give service to.

• Students will use critical thinking skills to plan and manage activities designed to increase community awareness

Descriptions of NETS-S addressed in the Learning Environment

National Educational Technology Standards for Students (cont.) • Digital Citizenship – students will utilize their knowledge of

technology to teach adult centered groups with the goal of spreading technological literacy across the community.

• Technology Operations and Concepts – Students will use the technological knowledge the already have as a bridge to learning about new technology systems.

Description of NETS-T likely to be used in the process of creating such a project

National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers

• Teachers can facilitate the opportunity for students to be creative and become leaders of certain community service projects depending on their particular skills and interests 

• Teachers will aide students in using digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, to support individual learning and growth.

• Teachers will communicate information and ideas effectively to both their students as well as other teachers and adults using a variety of media and formats.

• Teachers will provide students with a deeper cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging them with learners of other cultures and age ranges.

Technologies that might be used in such a project:

• Students my utilize digital camcorders to video tape interviews they may conduct, and edit them to create their own videos to educate others in programs such as imovie.

• Students could create blogs of their experiences throughout the various community service projects they will be conducting creating something similar to an online diary for other students to read. 

• Students may use tools such as social networking sites, instant messaging services, Marratech, and Google docs to collaborate with each other.  Lets also not forget the good old telephone. 

• Students may create their own web-page documenting their experience.

• Students can watch videos online that have already been created for particular charities and events.

 

Technology Example

In Their BootsIn the spirit of patriotism and  digital communities, students can conduct their own interviews of local veterans, create videos, and share them online similar to the documentary model seen in the series In Their Boots.

Potential Partners • Local Senior Citizen Organizations

o http://www.seniorcorps.gov/• Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) Organization • Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)• Children's Museums—Brooklyn Children's Museum,

The Children's Museum of Manhattan, and the Long Island Children's Museum, etc.

• Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES)o Nassau BOCESo Western Suffolk BOCES o Eastern Suffolk BOCES

• Salvation Army• Cell Phones for Soldiers• Volunteers of America

Examples of community service projects include (but are not limited to):

• Cleaning a park• Collecting much needed

items such as clothes, shoes, food, blankets, etc.

• Getting involved with Habitat for Humanity

• Cleaning up the side of the highways or roads

• Reading to the elderly in nursing homes 

• Build websites for non-for profit organizations

• Helping out a local fire or police department

• Helping out a local library• Tutoring developmentally

disabled children for free• Participating in school

activities that benefit the community

• Entertaining children with long term diseases in children's hospitals

Video Example—Students my participate in a project similar to the one described below.

Potential Resources

National & Community Service 

Resource Center • Tools and training for volunteer and service programs 

Summation/Outcomes

Students will answer the questions "How has your experience made you more aware of your responsibilities to yourself and others?" and  "Will you change anything about your behavior in light of your experience with this project?". To answer these questions, students will address their growth and awareness in the following areas:  • Patriotism and citizenship.• Interest in America's history, its traditions and institutions.  • Environmental awareness and a sense of stewardship for

our natural resources.• 21st century technological skills as good digital citizens and

leaders online.

Group Participants:

Julia Cava                                           

Wendy Binger

Peter Ruff

Geri Zorskas

Matthew Testa