Service-Learning

Extra-Credit Option for WR115

Mt. Hood Community College

“Be|the change you want to see in the world,” —Mahatma Gandhi

What is service-learning?• Unpaid (as in volunteer) mutually beneficial

work in which you provide a service to someone in need, and in which you:– Document your service by maintaining a log of

your service and Write up what you have learned.

– Deeply reflecting (in writing) on what those whom you served taught you and what you learned about yourself. This process should be continuously recorded in a reflective journal.

Why should I engage in service-learning?• You will learn more than you could ever imagine.• You will provide service to another human being.• You will be forever and fundamentally changed

by the experience.• And you will earn extra-credit points in an

interesting, hands-on way.• And---

You will feel good about yourself.

And you will feel even better about

the world!

Okay, I’m sold. Now what?• Prepare to commit a total of five hours

of actual service this term, or around one hour per week for five weeks.

• Review some of the service options in this presentation.

• Meet with your kind & understanding instructor (Yes, I know, who could that be?) with a few preferences.

• I will set up or help you set up your initial contact.

What are the requirements?• Your service-learning activity must be

in a literacy-related activity.• This broadly means that the activities

in which you engage will involve either reading or writing in some respect.

• Your service-learning activity must be documented. I will help you with this.

What are my options?• You can either select an activity

from the listed organizations, • Or, you can come up with your

own service-learning venue.• You can work on your own, • Or, you can work with others in

your class.

What can I do?Work with an adult who is learning English

or learning to read & write.• Become an Adult Literacy Volunteer at

MHCC! Free, top-notch training that will work for a lifetime: http://www.mhcc.edu/pages/101.asp?item=543

• Reynolds Learning Academy (one or two evenings per week)

• SUN Schools http://www.metfamily.org/sun.htm

• IRCO (Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization) http://www.irco.org/

• Work with adults in the community http://www.oregonliteracy.org/http://www.handsonportland.org/

Anything else?Work with elderly people in residence

centers and homes.• Read to them once or twice a week—maybe the

newspaper, a magazine, a novel. Some residents will want to keep up with sports, community events, national news!

• Help them write letters. People with fading eyesight may be in a lifelong habit of writing letters and notes. Help them continue to enjoy this part of life!

• Help them learn how to use a computer. More and more elderly people are learning to use computers to stay connected!

• Propose a literacy-related activity with seniors (Book Fair, Author talks, etc.)

What about working with kids?Work with children in community and school

settings. SUN Schools—after school and in-classroom tutoring

http://www.metfamily.org/sun.htm S.M.A.R.T. reader program (Start Making a Reader

Today) (a school-based program, about 30 min. a week per child) http://www.getsmartoregon.org/

Boys & Girls Clubs (homework help) http://www.bgcportland.org/

PAL (Police Athletic Leagues) (homework help) http://www.palkids.org/

Self-Enhancement, Inc. (homework and after school) http://www.selfenhancement.org/

Family shelters and temporary housing Other community & church organizations

And teenagers?Work with teenagers• In-school settings, such as the Reynolds

Learning Academy.• Community settings such as Boys &

Girls Clubs, Self-Enhancement, Inc., PAL, Asian, African, and Hispanic community-based organizations

• Church programs in literacy-related activities.

Can I come up with my own ideas?

You bet! • Hands-on Portland will help you tailor your

experience! http://www.handsonportland.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html

• Or check out Craig’s List for volunteer opportunities: http://portland.craigslist.org/vol/

• Just make sure that the focus of any service-learning activity is on literacy (reading/writing).

• Bring your ideas to me so I can work with you to make your experience truly both a giving and learning one.

Now get going!

Yeah!