Service Learning Dialogue Day
September 7, 2001

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"It is amazing to see educators who are so passionate about helping us as students to succeed! I think service learning is very beneficial to all students"
-- student participant

mcli : dialogue days : Service Learning : evaluations

evaluations

In the Service of Students and the Community: The Role of Service Learning in the Classroom

6. What was most beneficial about this event?

• It was wonderful to hear student experiences. (9 people)
• Resources/handouts. (5)
• New ideas/Brainstorming. (5)
• Networking/Talking with colleagues. (4)
• Troubleshooting. (2)
• I enjoyed the "Our Role in Building Community" session and particularly the student testimonies.
• Clarification between volunteer work/service and service learning and that service learning empowers the student and allows for different styles of learning.
• ÊModels of service learning.
• Having a better understanding of service learning not just from the event, but the interaction with other faculty involved in it.
• To remember why service learning is essential.
• I liked the focus on philosophy rather than just a "how to" or motivational approach.
• Discussing rationale/purpose.
• Different perspectives on student learning.
• Hearing other perspectives on service learning.
• The discussion of Civic participation.
• The realization of the importance of social transformation.
• Discussions with other service learning practitioners - there was a wealth of experience present.
• Learning what others have done/are doing.
• Hearing a variety of ideas and options. I know of service learning from being at the premier service learning institute; however, I have never done it but have always wanted to. I came up with an idea for my Eng 071 class that I am very excited about.
• Support from colleagues who are doing service learning (loved the music during reflection).
• Great variety of activities and sessions, 45-60 minute sessions good - pace too.
• The variety of settings and disciplines; revitalizing to hear other faculty.
• Seeing so many people come together who are passionate about service-learning.
• The blend of veteran's and novices created a great peer mentoring venue.
• Coming together of ideas and resources.
• Information clear and organized, easy to understand. Speakers were passionate and their enthusiasm was great! Good pace, fast and ongoing, no time for boredom.
• The validation that my courses are on track.
• Specific help with my "time" problem.
• Exploring deeper that the surface.
• Lots of information and open discussion and examples.
• The ability to breakout according to experience with service learning.
• Hearing about real projects from teachers and students. I admire all of them so much. Very inspiring. Good to hear from the agencies, too. Important. Students and teachers seem to have gained many insights.
• The morning panel of faculty describing their approaches.
• Experienced faculty guiding projects.
• The variety of expertise shared - new ideas, basic concepts, advanced insights.
• Realizing the need for a service learning director.
• The workshops and handouts.
• I found all of the information very beneficial and encouraging.
• I got tears in my eyes several times. Motivated me to do more. I was inspired by Sue, Sharon, Marybeth, Duane, Maria and others. Loved Dr. Ward's fabulous song. New ideas, new insights, etc. The students also made me cry in a very good way. Loved everything!

7. What could have been improved?

• More time in each session (more time, less sessions).
• More time to work on ideas, process, brainstorm, groupwork. (4 people)
• Some presentations were a little bit too long. (3 people)
• Planning contents that can be accomplished with time available. More working and processing time. Less duplication of information in handouts. Too many handouts - too overwhelming. Having information about resources for support on each campus.
• The definitions in the breakout sessions on faculty motivation. The distinctions are important. Some types of service brings students closer to the goals of civic participation and community building.
• Perhaps smaller - more specific break-out groups.
• More practical examples of projects that would be relevant to other disciplines (e.g., computers).
• Less repetition of information - hearing same person saying same thing over and over! In split sessions and then again in group sessions becomes tedious.
• Maybe do one and one-half hour sessions - the one hour were usually reduced to 50 minutes and the real "meat" had to be rushed or left out. Plus - more on reflection next time!
• Didn't need to be "sold" on service learning - that's why we are all here. Spend more time on detailed breakouts.
• At some point, give more attention to learning content and the exact ties/connections students make with concepts.
• More planning sessions for "veterans" rather than having discussion of background, civic, etc. That's not to say that it wasn't important! It was! I just wanted "more" ideas I could use on my class.
• In lieu of the Designing Service Learning Projects, perhaps a hands-on activity with the same title would have aided the novices in a more experiential manner.
• Drop Jay Leno derogatory tape.
• Food (better food, vegetarian choice). (4)
• Someone needed to be monitoring the lunch line as for a while the food ran out. It was replenished but no one had been watching and several in the line didn't know who to go to for help.
• Turn down the air conditioning I was so cold it was difficult to concentrate.
• Seating arrangement and temperature of the room.
• Nothing. (6)

8. What questions remain to be answered?

• What is available on my campus for support? What is the development point/state of service learning on my campus.
• How can service learning be incorporated across the District? Many more colleges would be active if each college had at least a basic support system to assist faculty.
• Lucky for me, not too many because we have Leslie!
• District coordinator of service learning among all campuses/agency contracts, funding.
• District-wide resources and support.
• Really liked the "Hotline" project. I would like a contact number.
• Lots! But I have made connections with someone on my campus who can help me. We have a meeting set for Tuesday morning!
• What legal requirements must be done.
• Should service learning be listed in the catalogues with an explanation.
• Further exploration of the results of different types of service learning. What best fits the colleges goals?
• How to design additional service learning projects that are relevant to my courses.
• Student time at the agency -- my class is a night class and students work during the day and often weekends.
• How well service learning compliments other courses.
• Getting a solid sense of how much to ask/expect of students for 1 hour credits.
• Implementation of social change.
• How do I move from philosophy and outcome to social justice - I need to reflect on this more.
• How to evaluate-- but Paula is going to provide me with her work, and I will read the handouts.
• How to improve the reflective process more effectively.
• Not sure as yet. Need to let this sink in.
• Personal questions about my own intentions in this area.
• So many - but I believe I can call on so many new friends who are more experienced.
• If I can make it happen.
• When to do another dialogue day on service learning?!
• Followup program.

9. What topics would you like to see presented for professional growth credit in the future?

• MORE service learning.
• More on service learning -- modularized into sessions extending over many sessions -- six or more and at different levels of expertise to allow some degree of completion towards planning and getting going.
• More about reflection will be good to look forward to hearing.
• More about block courses, team teaching, coordinated assignments.
• More hands-on "how to" regarding service learning.
• Many people said service learning should be six sessions like active learning. (2 people)
• Problem-based learning and its connection to service learning and civic engagement.
• Use of technology in service learning.
• Administrative dialogue day for service learning.
• Administrative assistance, viewpoints and resources -- all was geared at faculty, which is helpful, but a breakout session at each time for admin would be helpful.
• Using literature in various disciplines.
• Developing online courses. Additional teaching methods.
• More on distance or async successes.
• I am always interested in becoming less technologically challenged.
• Alternative delivery for classes (instructor). Inter-departmental/Inter-campus projects and collaborations.
• Topics that deal with philosophies and social ideology and change.
• Stress management and relaxation techniques.
• Reflection training.
• Connecting sports and arts with other disciplines.
• Connection between disciplines.
• Integration of critical thinking into content areas.
• Creativity and interaction in the classroom.
• The topics I have gone to so far are great -- keep it up! The hardest part is being able to leave my classes on Friday so I can go. I wish all campuses had classes Monday-Thursday so it would be more possible.
• I can't get any credit for these workshops, but formats like this are great.
• I will get back to you on this one! You all do a wonderful job!