Service Learning student at our Community Partner Eco Life

What is Service Learning?

Service learning is a high-impact teaching practice that incorporates community work into the curriculum, giving students real-world learning experiences that enhance their academic learning while providing a tangible benefit for the community. ​

—adapted from Campus Compact  (Compact.org)

CSUSM Academic Senate considers a course to be Service Learning  if:

• the service relates to the academic learning objectives of the course​
• the service is tied to academic content through reflection​
• the SL component accounts for no less than 15% of the course grade​

Service Learning focuses on both the needs of the community partner and the course learning objectives. ​

Experiential Learning Continuum

How Do Students Benefit from Service Learning?

Learning outcomes—deeper understanding of course material, positive impact on student engagement, GPA, retention, and graduation rates​

Personal outcomes—enhances leadership, collaboration, communication skills​

Social outcomes—appreciation of diversity, cultural competence, empathy, civic engagement

Service Learning student tutoring at Alta Vista High School

In Your Syllabus

Provide a definition of and rationale for Service Learning

See links to sample syllabi below.

Link service to learning objectives

Adapted from Loyola University, Community Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship http://www.loyno.edu/engage/learning-objectives

Professors should formulate at least one course-specific service learning objective and include it on the course syllabus.

A learning objective is an intended outcome: a specific area of knowledge students should master, a specific skill-set students should hone, or a thematic or topical area students with which students should become familiar. 

Service learning objectives connect intended outcomes to service activities as a means of achieving them.  Service learning objectives include the service activity as the "how." 

Learning objectives can be formulated as statements: "Students will [X]."  Service learning objectives can be formulated as: "Students will [X] by doing [Y]."

Examples of service learning objectives:

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will examine the strengths and weaknesses of educational policy arguments BY (means) tutoring in local public schools.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will observe, understand and be able to reproduce various accents prevalent throughout the New Orleans community BY (means) conversing and forming relationships with New Orleanians in authentic community-based contexts.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will gain an introductory knowledge of the various forms of forensic evidence BY (means) examining post-conviction criminal files for compelling forensic lacunae.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will learn to communicate scientific topics to a general audience BY (means) developing and presenting an exciting, hands-on science demonstrations to fifth-graders.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will be able to provide examples of the principles of behavioral psychology BY (means) interacting with individuals in authentic community-based contexts throughout New Orleans.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will understand risk factors for HIV infection in a community BY (means) serving at HIV prevention and education programs and residences for those living with HIV and AIDS.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome): Students will learn how to create an advertising campaign BY (means) learning about the mission of and the needs of a non-profit client. 

Additional Resources:

• Campus Compact Syllabus Database
• Syllabi samples from Portland Community College
• Service Learning Ideas by Discipline
• Remote Service Learning Ideas

CSUSM has received multiple awards from Girl Scouts San Diego

Community Partners = Co-Educators

We recommend making connections with community partners 1-2 months before the start of the semester. Keep in mind that you may need to contact multiple sites to end up with a list of  partners that offer projects aligned with your course learning objectives.

Ideally, create a list of preferred partners for your class. At a minimum, communicate a clear set of criteria for students to select their placement site. 

Service Learning student tutoring at A Step Beyond

At the beginning of the semester

Request a classroom presentation from our office! https://www.csusm.edu/servicelearning/classroompresentation.html We can guide students in how to navigate the database and apply for opportunities with community partners.

Do pre-reflection activities

Include course activities that promote cultural sensitivity and awareness of what Campus Compact describes as “intercultural communication, competency, self-understanding, and comprehension of positionality in respect to power and privilege.” Here is a collection of useful activities from Campus Compact: https://compact.org/global-sl/toolsandsyllabi/reflection-intercultural-border-crossing-power-and-privilege/

Brief students on professional behavior

• Remind them of what a professional email looks like and what information they should include when reaching out to organizations.

• Stress the importance of punctuality, communication with site supervisors, asking questions, following the organization's dress code, etc.

• Encourage them to consider possible challenges and brainstorm solutions beforehand. For example, if a student has no car, they can arrange to carpool with a classmate.

Kids in the after-school program at Boys & Girls Club in Vista

Critical Reflection

• Reflection activities serve as an essential bridge between service and course concepts. The process of reflection should be ongoing throughout the semester, and reflection topics should challenge students to connect course learning to service experiences, question assumptions, track changes in their perspective, and imagine future action.

• Reflections can take many forms: essays, in-class discussions, journals, presentations, theory application papers, case studies, videos, letters to the editor, multimedia brochures, blogs, etc.

• • Reflection resources from Campus Compact
  • Service Learning Reflection Toolkit compiled by Miami Dade College

Let's get this show on the road!