Learning in Action

Considering offering a Service Learning Class:

If you are considering offering a Service Learning course, piloting a community-based project, or submitting a course to the ICC, we highly recommend setting up a consultation with our Faculty Support Coordinator. At Humboldt, Service Learning courses can be submitted as a new course to the ICC, piloted as a special topics course, or piloted as an addition to an existing course.  In all cases, working with our office will ensure a smooth approval process, assist in implementing best practices and is required to meet curriculum and risk management guidelines. See below for links to the ICC page regardign submission for Service Learning S-Designation. 

Humboldt has identified the following elements as essential to every Service Learning course:

1. Community Voice: Service will meet real community-identified need(s)

2. Link to curriculum: Service is tied to and enhances the curriculum, connecting theory to practice.

3. Preparation of students: Faculty will orient students to both the learning site/community partner organization(s) and to principles of Service Learning pedagogy.

4. Reciprocity: Partnerships between community partners, students and faculty must be reciprocal in practice, being worthwhile and valuable for all participants.

5. Reflection: Provide systematic reflection activities that are embedded throughout the course, including pre and post service. 

6. Development at all stages: Student experiences, course evolution, and emerging community needs may all contribute to the need to make adjustments to meet the emerging needs of all participants. 

7. Foster civic responsibility and diversity: Through service and classroom reflections, students are able to recognize that participation and the ability to respond to authentic needs improve the quality of life in the community. 

8. Evaluation: Provide ongoing, embedded evaluation with all participants aware of what will be evaluated.

When creating your course, CCBL can help you:

• Cultivate community partner relationships for service learning placements
• Create a curriculum based in the service learning pedagogy
• Orient students to service learning, report student placements, and facilitate class reflection activities
• Navigate the S4 database
• Ensure risk management requirements are met
• Submit course proposals to ICC

Service Learning Courses include the following in their Syllabus as part of course design:

• Service Learning is outlined as a clear goal in the course description and is tied to a Student Learning Outcome
• Statement of how service learning is a partnership between community partners, students, and faculty and should be worthwhile and valuable for all participants
• Clear outline of the student responsibilities, service requirements (min of 10 hours) and how the students success will be measured and assessed.
• List of service projects, recommended community partners, and expectations for securing placement.
• Instructions for using S4, the campus database for risk management and placement records
• Scheduled in-class time for orientation to principles of Service Learning, readings on best practices, and planning for community-based projects.
• Reflection activities that are systematically embedded throughout the course and reflect on service as well as community needs, equity, and  issues around diversity. 

For more information and support, please contact Center for Community Based Learning staff at ccbl@humboldt.edu.