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| Jan 13 2009, 9:04 PM EST (current) | wolfkitten | 8 words added, 5 words deleted |
| Jan 7 2009, 8:13 PM EST | foggybottom | 14 words added, 14 words deleted |
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Everything we do has an impact on the world around us. Service Learning Projects help students understand the consequences of their actions, and gives them the tools they need to minimize their negative impacts while creating positive change.
What is a Service Learning Project?
Service Learning Projects get students involved in tackling an issue or problem in their local community. They are often most successful when they're focused on environmental issues. The enhancement of outdoor habitats and the development of natural sites within a community are great advertisements of students' efforts.
What Motivates Students to Take Action?
Many people won't respond to problems unless there's something in it for them. Although both positive and negative motivators work, many researchers feel that the more positive the reinforcement, the more successful a community will be in realizing constructive environmental behaviors.
Researchers are finding that students feel more positive about getting involved if they have confidence that their efforts will make a difference. It is vital that students participate in Service Learning Projects that will enable them to see their immediate impact.
Most young people are still forming their world view, their value system, and their ethical perspective on the environment. The process of identifying Service Learning Projects, discussing approaches and viewpoints, and working through a project's implementation is critical to the development of an environmental ethic.
Who Can Do Service Learning Projects?
Students of all ages can take part in Service Learning Projects. However, it is critical to match the complexity of the tasks to the abilities of students. Older students can get involved in issues that require research, issue analysis, in-depth discussion, careful planning and follow-up. Younger students should begin with projects that don't involve heated controversy, long-term commitments or complex solutions.
What is The Rationale For Service Learning Projects?
Educators find that taking part in Service Learning Projects can help students develop a strong environmental ethic and increase their sense of personal worth and competence. Beyond that, students will gain a better understanding of their own value system by examining their feelings and positions on a range of issues-from their relationship to the community to their empathy for others.
One of the most important reasons for taking action is that these project help young people develop a string sense of control over their lives. Instead of viewing the problems they face as hopeless and beyond their control, students begin to understand that they do have the power to bring about positive and significant change.
Another great benefit of Service Learning Projects is that the students become examples of what others can accomplish. As students' enthusiasm for their projects rubs off on others, a snowball effect can take over. Soon, others want to get in on the action.
West Valley City School: Service Learning in Action:
West Valley City School(click link to see our website) is a Constructivist-Basedproject-based junior high located in the West Valley School District www.wvcityschool.org. ThisDistrict.This is no ordinary junior high, this school is in essence run by the students, for the students. The core belief at WV City School is that students, and humans for that matter, learn best and retain knowledge longer through hands-on leaning. Instead of reading about environmental issues and problems in books, these students get out in the local community and identify issues and problems with the help of their teachers, scientists, historians and other professionals to identify, and work on real-world problems. This style of learning will stay with the child and serve as an impetus for life long learning and civic participation.
What is a Service Learning Project?
Service Learning Projects get students involved in tackling an issue or problem in their local community. They are often most successful when they're focused on environmental issues. The enhancement of outdoor habitats and the development of natural sites within a community are great advertisements of students' efforts.
What Motivates Students to Take Action?
Many people won't respond to problems unless there's something in it for them. Although both positive and negative motivators work, many researchers feel that the more positive the reinforcement, the more successful a community will be in realizing constructive environmental behaviors.
Researchers are finding that students feel more positive about getting involved if they have confidence that their efforts will make a difference. It is vital that students participate in Service Learning Projects that will enable them to see their immediate impact.
Most young people are still forming their world view, their value system, and their ethical perspective on the environment. The process of identifying Service Learning Projects, discussing approaches and viewpoints, and working through a project's implementation is critical to the development of an environmental ethic.
Who Can Do Service Learning Projects?
Students of all ages can take part in Service Learning Projects. However, it is critical to match the complexity of the tasks to the abilities of students. Older students can get involved in issues that require research, issue analysis, in-depth discussion, careful planning and follow-up. Younger students should begin with projects that don't involve heated controversy, long-term commitments or complex solutions.
What is The Rationale For Service Learning Projects?
Educators find that taking part in Service Learning Projects can help students develop a strong environmental ethic and increase their sense of personal worth and competence. Beyond that, students will gain a better understanding of their own value system by examining their feelings and positions on a range of issues-from their relationship to the community to their empathy for others.
One of the most important reasons for taking action is that these project help young people develop a string sense of control over their lives. Instead of viewing the problems they face as hopeless and beyond their control, students begin to understand that they do have the power to bring about positive and significant change.
Another great benefit of Service Learning Projects is that the students become examples of what others can accomplish. As students' enthusiasm for their projects rubs off on others, a snowball effect can take over. Soon, others want to get in on the action.
West Valley City School: Service Learning in Action:
West Valley City School(click link to see our website) is a Constructivist-Basedproject-based junior high located in the West Valley School District www.wvcityschool.org. ThisDistrict.This is no ordinary junior high, this school is in essence run by the students, for the students. The core belief at WV City School is that students, and humans for that matter, learn best and retain knowledge longer through hands-on leaning. Instead of reading about environmental issues and problems in books, these students get out in the local community and identify issues and problems with the help of their teachers, scientists, historians and other professionals to identify, and work on real-world problems. This style of learning will stay with the child and serve as an impetus for life long learning and civic participation.
