Civic Engagement - Service-Learning Project

Learning Outcomes

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

• Identify and reflect upon current and changing attitudes about persons with mental illness and the Mental Health System.
• Apply knowledge of mental health practice and theory in an analysis of experiences in a mental health care or mental health advocacy setting.
• Identify ways in which civic action in inherent in the role of a Mental Health Worker.
• Describe instances in which they have adapted or modified communication practices within the mental health experiential.

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 Service Learning (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 Service Learning Reflection Project (Civic Engagement)
5. Complete the following Service Learning 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.

Nearly everything you can think of is probably good:

• Mental Health Agency
• Advocacy Services
• Supported Employment Agencies
• Social Clubs
• Providing Public Education and/or Presentations
• Awareness Events (Fund Raisers)
• Participation in the KVCC Mental Health Club
• Self-designed Project

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 your Service Learning Reflection Presentation.

Step 4: Complete your Service Learning Reflection Presentation

For this project we would like you to use Adobe Spark Video. If you do not have access to an iPad then you will need to borrow one from the KVCC Learning Commons. If that is difficult for you due to your distance from the college or your schedule then please email your instructor to determine what other presentation options you could do. Some students have done a traditional PowerPoint or Keynote and then video recorded themselves giving the presentation. You need to have pre-approval from your instructor if you choose to use something other than Adobe Spark Video.

You do still need to write about your service project using text in your presentation but you are encouraged to add other media to support your message. Make sure to review the rubric below. Your presentation needs to include all of the required elements, including the selection of 3 different mental health topics which connect back to your experiences.

NOTE #1:

Once completed, you wil then submit a link to your project in Blackboard for credit. However, rather than upload a document you will simply paste the link provided by your Adobe Spark Video into the Blackboard text box provided.

NOTE #2:

If you include images of other people who are not students or staff/faculty at KVCC you will need to secure permission to use their image in your presentation. To do so the iPad includes software for you to collect signature on a release (using the SignEasy app). You can also obtain written paper releases.

NOTE # 3:

In the online class you will also post a link to your Adobe Spark Video into the designated Discussion Board so you can share your experiences with your classmates. In the face to face class each of you will share your video during our class time.

Click here to download the release form

Service Learning Reflection Project Rubric

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 must be completed and signed by your site supervisor and submitted to Mark Kavanaugh (or whoever your Instructor tells you to submit it to) in paper form, not electronically, at the end of the project.

Please forward your Time Log and Supervisor Evaluation to your Instructor.

When you are completely done your project, please complete the ONLINE SL Experience Summary Survey (link below).