Student-Directed Service-Learning Project

Step 1: Select an Agency.

Step 2: Research

Now that you have chosen an agency to work with, it is time to research that agency and the problems that it addresses.  You might want to begin by finding out about the agency that you will be working with.  Do they have a website?  Find it.  Is there someone you can talk to about the issues that they deal with?  Find them and talk to them.

The research component for this project is not enormous -- you will need to have used at least three sources (websites, books, journals, people, etc.).  But – more importantly – you need to get enough information to write a few paragraphs about the problems that this agency addresses in your community.  Get SPECIFIC information about THIS AREA.  Dealing with homeless pets?  Find out how many dogs and/or cats get put down every year in the Greater Columbia (or South Carolina) area.  Dealing with veterans?  Find out how many veterans are in your area.  Get some NUMBERS for reporting.  You’ll need them later.

On pages 15 and 16 of your Service-Learning Journal & Guide, write the source citation (where you obtained your information) and the main ideas surrounding the issues you are trying to help address.

Step 3: Make Contact with the Agency

Now that you know a good deal about the issues that your agency deals with, you can speak intelligently about helping them.  It’s time to call the Contact Person at the agency.  Let them know the following:

§         that you are a student at Midlands Technical College,

§         that you have been assigned a service-learning project for this term,

§         that you have been researching the issues of this community, and

§         that you would like to commit at least ten hours of your time to help them out.

Please be aware that not every agency will be able to accommodate your schedule.  The idea here is that you want to help them out and that you will do what you need to do in order to help.  Also, with all of the students doing service-learning projects in the area (many just from MTC), not every agency will be able to take in and monitor so many students.  Just do your best to work with what they have to offer.  If there is absolutely nothing that you can do for them, then you will need to find another agency to work with.  DO NOT PUT THIS PROJECT OFF!  “I ran out of time” or “my agency couldn’t use me” are not valid reasons for not completing this part of the course.  Get it done EARLY and you’ll be glad you did.

Step 4: Write Down Your Plan of Action

On page 17 of your Service-Learning Guide & Journal is a page entitled “Plan of Action.”  There are two sections to this page.  In the “Plan of Action” section, write down exactly what you plan on doing for your service-learning project.  You may use additional pages if necessary.  Here is an example:

In order to address the growing needs of the unfortunate children of homeless families, I plan on contributing 12 hours of my time at the XYZ Daycare Center.  This center is a facility commissioned to provide care and teaching of children from homeless families.  I will be working there on Monday afternoons for 4 hours.  This service will last for three weeks (from Octember 7^th through Octember 21^st).

The next section of the Plan of Action page asks you to list the objectives of your service-learning project and/or describe the project’s attributes.  Here is an example:

This project will result in the temporary expansion of the number of caregiver/teachers at the XYZ Daycare Center.  This will ease the burden for the existing volunteer/employees, and I will also be able to use my interest in childcare to help bring comfort to some children.  This project will also allow me to gain valuable experience with children, and bring me closer to understanding the issues of homelessness in our community.

Step 5: Begin Your Service

Now is when you begin your actual service to your community agency.  Remember to continue to document your activities in the “Journal” portion of the Service-Learning Guide & Journal (beginning page 18).  Perform the work with enthusiasm and a professional attitude.  Remember that you are creating a better future for those you are helping – and for the community in general.  But you will also be receiving as you give: be open to the information and advice that you will hear from your partner agency.  You will also gain a stronger sense of empathy, connection, and mission from the people with whom you are serving and working.

Step 6: Reflect

Once you are finished with your service and have documented all of your weeks of preparation, research, and work, it is time to engage in a most important part of this project: reflection.  Look over your journal entries and think about what you have accomplished, what you have learned, and whether you feel that you have benefited from this experience.  Jot down some notes about your reflections, and then turn to page 43 in your Service-Learning Guide & Journal.  The word “Journal” is at the top of this page, but it is really intended as a place for you to write your reflection about your experience.  Write down your

Step 7: Prepare Your Presentation

Once you have reflected on your service-learning experience, you will need to prepare a brief (5 minute) oral presentation of your experience.  Specifically, you will need to include

• Your name
• The issue that you addressed (homelessness, needy, community functions)
• The name of the agency that you worked with
• What work you did for the agency
• What you learned from this experience (from your reflection in Step 6)

Additionally, you are required to develop a PowerPoint presentation to enhance your oral presentation.  This slideshow presentation needs to include:

• A Title Slide with your name, the class number and section, and the name of your partner agency.
• At least one slide that outlines the issues that your agency deals with (include any NUMBERS from Step 2).
• At least one slide that outlines what you specifically did to help the agency.
• A final slide that relates what you learned from this activity (challenges, new issues that you didn’t know existed, etc.)

Step 8: Presentation and Submission of Documentation

In order to receive full credit for your service-learning project, you need to have completed the project and submitted the following:

• Oral Presentation (presented in class)

o        PowerPoint enhancement to oral presentation

• Documents submitted to me:

o        Your Service-Learning Guide & Journal with the following completed:

§         Weekly journal entries (beginning on Page 18)

§         List of research references (pages 15 & 16)

§         Plan of Action (page 17)

§         Reflection (page 43)

o        Letter from agency, documenting your service to that agency