Congratulations! Just by visiting this web page, you’ve already taken your first step towards designing a successful service-learning project.  Service-learning involves a five-step process. If you are having any problems implementing a step, contact the center for additional help and we will gladly assist you.

Step 1       Step 2       Step 3       Step 4       Step 5   

Step 1: Preparation.  Preparation includes planning service activities and providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in and benefit from the service activity. Depending on the nature of your planning process, preparation may include:

Students must understand:

-What is expected of them.
-What they can expect to accomplish with the service activity.
-How the service activity is related to the objectives of the course.

The Community Agency should:

-Work with the faculty and students to develop a well defined activity and  
  specific program outcomes.
-Help identify specific knowledge and skills students will need to do the work.
-Be prepared to assist in the training of students in project related skills and  knowledge in the areas of safety.
-Devise a schedule for the student to work with the agency on the project
-Provide the student with the necessary supervision during the project.
-Devise a written format with the faculty and student to evaluate the   performance of the student and the success of the project.

The faculty member should:

-Obtain a KSU Faculty Learn and Serve Handbook (the LS Center is currently   putting together the handbook. Contact the center for the information on
  its release).
-Contact the LS Center for any information of resources needed to start the   desired project.
-Contact Agency representative(s) to discuss plans and goals for the service   project and confirm project/curriculum compatibility
-Present the Service Possibilities to your students, discussing all phases and
  requirements of the project

The Student(s) should:

-Have a role in identifying the community need(s) he or she would like to  address.
-Arrange to meet with Faculty and Agency Representative(s) to discuss  responsibilities, goals, scheduling, needs, and other areas of interest.
-Receive content area instruction and specific training needed to conduct
 the service-learning project.

The Community Agency Representative, Faculty Member and Student(s) should:

-Enter into a written agreement that clearly defines the roles and  responsibilities of the faculty member(s), students, and the community  agency.
-Complete any necessary liability forms required by Kennesaw University or the  agency.

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Step 1       Step 2       Step 3       Step 4       Step 5 

Step 2: Action. Action is the service activity. Service activities should have the following characteristics:

-The service should be meaningful.
-There should be clear links between the service activity and the objectives
  of the course.
-Students should have a sense of ownership in the project.
-There should be adequate supervision and evaluation of student activities.

The Community Agency should:

-Provide any necessary training outside of KSU Course curriculum to qualify  the Student(s) to participate in the service-learning activity.
-Address needs, concerns and liability issues of the student(s).
-Provide the agreed-upon amount of supervision and evaluation of students.

The Faculty Member should:

-Maintain regular contact with the Agency through the duration of the  service-learning project to address successes and/or concerns with the  project and the student(s).
-Ensure that course concepts are being applied in the service-learning
 activity and that academic goals are being met.
-Provide curricular and motivational support to the student(s) involved in the  service-learning project.

The Student(s) should:

-Ensure that the service-learning activity is meaningful and meets his or her  academic goals.
-Adhere to all established regulations and/or guidelines.
-Take ownership of the project and its responsibilities.
-Adhere to agreed-upon scheduling and/or expectations, notifying the  community agency and faculty member in the event of rescheduling, or  inability to fulfill his or her service-learning commitment for any reason.
-Be as creative as possible!

The Community Agency, Faculty Member and Student(s) should:

-Create a positive serving and learning atmosphere by contributing  appropriately to the success of the project.
-Contact the KSU Learn and Serve Center with any questions, concerns or  comments.
-Keep the Center informed about any significant achievements and/or
 reasons  to celebrate. (We love to put that stuff in the news!)
-Work hard - It's worth it!

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Step 1       Step 2       Step 3       Step 4       Step 5 

Step 3: Reflection. This step offers the opportunity for the Student(s) to critically think about his or her service-learning experience and apply insights to a broader academic and social context. Reflection activities also provide additional opportunities to link academic work with the service activities. Reflection is not just a third sequential step in the service-learning process, but should be an integral part of all the steps of service-learning.

The Community Agency should:

-Participate with students in regular reflection activities.

The Faculty Member should:

-Establish the need for the reflection as an integral component of the
 service-learning project.
-Consult the KSU Learn and Serve Center for ideas on student reflection -
 or come up with original ideas for reflection.
-Stimulate service-learning Student(s) to think critically about the
 experience  and to put it in his or her own terms.
-Reflect on his or her own experience with this service-learning project.

The Student(s) should:

-Think about and apply skills learned through the service-learning project and   course curriculum.
-Think about goals set and achieved.
-Recall any preconceived notions prior to the service-learning project.
-Think about those who benefited from the service-learning activity. How
  were they impacted?
-Think of how the service-learning activity impacted the community as a   whole.
-Identify the next steps in their service activity and how their service fits
  into the larger picture.

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Step 1       Step 2       Step 3       Step 4       Step 5 

Step 4: Celebration. This step recognizes the contributions made by the students, faculty and community agency, and provides closure to the service-learning activity.

The Community Agency, Faculty Member and Student(s) should:

-Recognize the efforts of all involved (that includes those being served!) in  making the service-learning project a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
-Share reflections with one another.
-Have fun! Celebrate! You've done something great!

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Step 1       Step 2       Step 3       Step 4       Step 5 

Step 5: Evaluation. As with reflection, evaluation is a step that must be integrated throughout the process rather than be considered only as the last step. Evaluation should serve several purposes including:

-Formative and summative evaluation of the impact of the entire project on  students, faculty, partner, agencies, the university and the community.
-An additional reflection opportunity.
-Evaluation of student performance.
-Information to be combined with data from other service-learning projects to  help assess the overall impact of service-learning at KSU.
-Information to design future service-learning projects and to enhance the  services of the KSU Learn and Serve Center.

The Community Agency should:

-Work with the faculty member and students in the development of  appropriate student performance measures and overall project formative
 and summative evaluation.

The Faculty Member should:

-Work with the community agency and students in the development of  appropriate measures of student performance and overall formative and  summative project evaluation.

The Student(s) should:

-Work with the faculty member and community agency in the development of  appropriate measures of student performance and overall formative and  summative project evaluation.

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Service Learning Center
Learning Support Programs
1000 Chastain Rd.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(770)-423-6131
Contact us at sdesouza@kennesaw.edu

Last Date Modified: June 20, 2001
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