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SERVICE-LEARNING:
Something To Take With You!
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Story
So, you’re in a Service-Learning class . . . but, now
what?! And then what?! Consider this:
Your Assignment:
•Depart for North Boise to play basketball with teens.
•OR: Interview Idaho First Ladies for a museum exhibit.
•OR: Create an illustrated brochure for parent volunteers at
Headstart.
Sound like the assignments you expected? If not, you’re in
for an invigorating surprise. As you register for classes at Boise
State University, you may see the words “Integrated
Service-Learning” alongside the title of your course. Just
what is “Service-Learning”, how does it relate to these
innovative assignments, and how can you make sure you get the
chance to learn outside the classroom walls during your “Real
Education for the Real World”?
Now in its sixth year at BSU, the Service-Learning Program is a
program that hooks up the courses you’re interested in with
real community issues. It gives you the chance to take skills and
theories you learn in class, see how they work to meet local needs,
and put your thoughts to work by making sure you and your
classmates discuss and reflect on your experiences. As one student
put it, “It’s beneficial to see how issues discussed in
class pertain rather directly to reality.”
Let’s say, for example, that you’re taking Health
Promotion. You probably expect lectures about “Health
Fairs”, but through Boise State’s Service-Learning
partnerships, you’ll get to plan, design, put on, and
evaluate the REACH Health Fair. Now that’s putting your
education to good use!
But, specialized classes such as Health Promotion aren’t the
only ones that include Service-Learning as part of their plans.
Select sections of Freshman Seminar (UNIV 101-001 through 006),
Nonfiction Writing (ENGL 401), Democratic Media Production (COMM
494/594), Intro to Gender Studies (GENDER 300), and Developmental
Writing/English Composition (ENGL 90/101) are some of the classes
that will offer Service-Learning sections in 2004-2005.
And the places where students learn and serve in the Treasure
Valley community are just as varied. “I was made to feel I
was an important participant . . . It is an excellent opportunity
to learn about the rest of the world, an item missing in U.S.
education,” commented one Social Work student who worked with
Talk Time, a continuing ESL program for immigrants and refugees.
“It’s a great way to understand the way other cultures
work,” said another. Boise State Service-Learners can also be
found at the Idaho Botanical Gardens, Fort Boise Recreation Center,
Idaho Food Bank, and the Veterans’ Home, just to name a few
of Service-Learning’s forty plus active sites.
Students have learned while planting a community garden, doing
archival work on the history of African-Americans in Idaho, leading
tours, serving meals to the homeless, and providing companionship
to Veterans. Service-Learners say it opens doors to new thinking,
community contacts, closer relationships, and a sense that they can
make a difference in issues that matter.
Barbara Dehl began her academic career this past spring majoring in
Political Science. Barbara is responsible for the writing and
eventual passage of “Cassie’s Law”, named in
honor of an Idaho teen murdered by her abusive boyfriend. Barbara
is Cassie’s mom. Barbara did her Service-Learning with Fort
Boise Alternative School for her Introduction to Social Welfare
course. She saw a relationship between her desired profession and
issues faced by teens regarding dating violence. “When I saw
Ft. Boise on the project list and knew it was an alternative school
where many of the children had faced violence in their lives, I was
excited to sign on for my service-learning requirement.
“Since Cassie was killed it has been my goal to educate teens
about relationship violence,” Barbara theorizes.
Barbara’s speech that day inspired a group of teens at Ft.
Boise to put together their own project on teen relationship
violence, which took them on to a national competition. They stated
Barbara was their inspiration. Not only did she make a difference
in the community, but chances are Barbara’s “Real
World” experience will give her both a personal and a
professional edge.
Service-Learning is also noted on your transcripts. To make sure
you get enrolled in a Service-Learning course, contact
Service-Learning at 426-2380 or 426-1004 or visit our
Web Site at:
“http://www2.boisestate.edu/servicelearning”>www2.boisestate.edu/servicelearning
Kerri McCanna,
Service-Learning Program Liaison
