Civic Engagement - Service-Learning Project

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

• Perform a minimum of 10 hours of community service.
• Apply an understanding of course topics to an analysis of experiences within the service.
• Reflect upon personal attitudes and beliefs both prior and after the service.
• Identify personal values related to civic engagement.
• Reflect upon personal communication skills within the context of the service.

Steps in the Process

Through the class schedule you are going to engage in a number of graded and ungraded activities that will lead you through the process of developing a quality service-learning project. These steps are outlined in the Course Navigator. Descriptions of each step are also included as links in this section of the course.

The steps in the Service-Learning process are:

1. Locate an organization, event, or a self-designed public education program at which you can volunteer.
2. Complete the SL Proposal Quiz
3. Complete your Hours (in here you will find a link to the Time Log and Supervisor Evaluation forms you need to complete to document your service.)
4. Complete your SL Reflection Paper (Civic Engagement)
5. Complete the following SL related forms and documentation (links and instructions are located below)
   • Experience Summary Survey
   • SL Time Log
   • SL Supervisor Evaluation

Scroll down to see specific information related to each of these steps

Step 1: Locate an organization, event, or a self-designed public education program at which you can volunteer.

You need to document 10 hours of service in the community during the semester in which you are taking this course. The easiest way to do this is to locate an organization that already uses volunteers.

For this assignment you will need to volunteer for a non-profit organization of your choice. There are many different kinds of organizations and functions that you can play.

Types of organizations:

• Civic Organizations
• Political organizations
• Health Advocacy (like the Lung Association, American Cancer Society, etc.)
• Fund Raisers (schools, clubs, organizations)
• Civic Involvement (school boards, town boards, running for office)
• Faith-based organzations

Types of roles and activities

• Committee work
• Office work
• Fund raising
• Mailings
• Organizing
• Advocating
• Coaching
• Teaching Classes

Many people decide to work for an existing organization, or you may already do volunteer work for an organization (churches, youth organizations, youth sports, all the Fraternal oganizations---Jaycees, Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Elks, etc.)

You can also design your own service projectionist of sitting on the couch saying that "someone should do something about...". Well, get off the couch and be the "someone"!!

It is easier to talk about what you can't do:

• You cannot do one-on-one personal care
• You cannot do work for a family member
• You cannot do work that would otherwise go to a paid employee

The KVCC Center for Civic Engagement maintains a website where opportunities are advertised. Check the graphic to visit the website!

Step 2: Complete the SL Proposal Quiz

Locate the "SL Proposal Quiz" in your course.

Answer the following questions about your proposed SL project. This quiz will remain open indefinitely so you can update it as changes happen. Each time I grade it I will leave comments. You must score a 100 on this quiz in order to have an "approved" SL project. You can take it as many times as you like.

Step 3: Complete your Hours and Documentation

Volunteer at the site for the number of hours required by your instructor. Keep a journal of your observations and experiences as this will be useful as you complete the two written papers for this project.

Step 4: Complete your SL Reflection Paper

The point of this paper is to get you to reflect upon your service and how it relates to you as a person, a citizen, and as a student.

Use the rubric below as a guide to writing your paper. You are encouraged to organize your paper into sections that cover each aspect of the grading rubric, but be mindful that within each section, your writing needs to be in narrative format.

Your paper should be 5-7 pages long. Include a title page (not included in the page count) and a references page (also not counted in the page count). Make sure that the title page, the paper, and the references are all ONE DIGITAL FILE...do not send separate files.

SL Reflection Paper Rubric
Click here to review instructions on a digital, iPad-based, alternative to writing this paper called Storehouse

Step 6: Complete your SL Paperwork and Survey

Have your site supervisor complete the Supervisor Assessment Form

Complete your Service-Learning Time Log throughout your service experience in order to document your hours and maintain a Journal about your experiences that you can use when you write your paper

THIS TIME LOG AND SUPERVISOR ASSESSMENT MUST BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR TO ENSURE THAT YOU COMPLETED THESE HOURS.