Comments for Chrislems's Service Learning Journal http://chrislems.wordpress.com My Service Learning Journal for the Digital Citizenship Class Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:45:38 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Better Reflection Paper Outline by janet http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/better-reflection-paper-outline/#comment-24 janet Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:45:38 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/better-reflection-paper-outline/#comment-24 Hey Chris, just checked out your outline. I really wish I would have found the article “The Limits of Service-Learning in Higher Education” you listed on your biblio. It seems like you've got at least a 20 page paper there! I think that you make an interesting point in regards to quantifying empirical evidence. Since LIS has only recently engaged in SL very little has been done in studying the effects its had as opposed to other disciplines that have a longer history in using the model. In any case, hope you have a great break! Hey Chris, just checked out your outline. I really wish I would have found the article “The Limits of Service-Learning in Higher Education” you listed on your biblio. It seems like you’ve got at least a 20 page paper there! I think that you make an interesting point in regards to quantifying empirical evidence. Since LIS has only recently engaged in SL very little has been done in studying the effects its had as opposed to other disciplines that have a longer history in using the model. In any case, hope you have a great break!

]]> Comment on Final Thoughts by sgrant http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/final-thoughts/#comment-23 sgrant Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:52:36 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/final-thoughts/#comment-23 I really enjoyed this post, Chris. I agree that service-learning gets really interesting when it intersects with pedagogy. I'm grateful that I could watch two professionals in action, literally. Both of them were high school teachers before returning to graduate school and I was able to soak up some techniques. Like repeat, repeat, repeat, but say it differently each time. They even talked about "constructivism" and using easy-to-understand metaphors to help explain foreign concepts. And I think it would be really difficult to work with the same person over a period of time. My classes have been so incredibly diverse and some had really low thresholds for any kind of frustration. That would've been soul crushing to work with over the course of the semester :) I really enjoyed this post, Chris. I agree that service-learning gets really interesting when it intersects with pedagogy. I’m grateful that I could watch two professionals in action, literally. Both of them were high school teachers before returning to graduate school and I was able to soak up some techniques. Like repeat, repeat, repeat, but say it differently each time. They even talked about “constructivism” and using easy-to-understand metaphors to help explain foreign concepts. And I think it would be really difficult to work with the same person over a period of time. My classes have been so incredibly diverse and some had really low thresholds for any kind of frustration. That would’ve been soul crushing to work with over the course of the semester :)

]]> Comment on Fifth Visit by docsfluency http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/fifth-visit/#comment-21 docsfluency Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:56:11 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/fifth-visit/#comment-21 This is one of your best posts. You take reflection very seriously, which is no small order. Though I think you feel otherwise, I imagine your work and patience with Sharon will pay huge dividends for the kids at Frick 6-8 for years to come. This is one of your best posts. You take reflection very seriously, which is no small order. Though I think you feel otherwise, I imagine your work and patience with Sharon will pay huge dividends for the kids at Frick 6-8 for years to come.

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by cil614 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-20 cil614 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:13:34 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-20 Chris, Perhaps your client got more out of your experience than you think. I have found that sometimes my trainee adds to my knowledge base by the questions. It is a way for us to "bond", by eliminating some of the trainer/trainee pedastel issue. KatyL Chris, Perhaps your client got more out of your experience than you think. I have found that sometimes my trainee adds to my knowledge base by the questions. It is a way for us to “bond”, by eliminating some of the trainer/trainee pedastel issue.

KatyL

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by jac191 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-19 jac191 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:08:16 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-19 Hi Chris, Well it seems as though you've gotten some pretty good suggestions from others. I like the idea about discussing the theory vs. practice topic as well. You can say a lot about the kinds of "divides" you've come across and how you approached them. Maybe looking back you would have done things differently (or not) if so, how? From what you've read are there other ways SIS students should engage in service learning? Or is the concept all the same? I think we have a lot of freedom to shape our papers in really creative ways. That is why my outline is all over the place. Good luck! PS. I think you've got some great sources. Hi Chris,

Well it seems as though you’ve gotten some pretty good suggestions from others. I like the idea about discussing the theory vs. practice topic as well. You can say a lot about the kinds of “divides” you’ve come across and how you approached them. Maybe looking back you would have done things differently (or not) if so, how? From what you’ve read are there other ways SIS students should engage in service learning? Or is the concept all the same? I think we have a lot of freedom to shape our papers in really creative ways. That is why my outline is all over the place. Good luck!

PS. I think you’ve got some great sources.

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by wodus http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-18 wodus Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:44:30 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-18 Chris, I can feel your pain. I had a hard time to come up with an outline. I thought about this paper from October but couldn't have any clue at all and I still do. I saw a couple of articles from the journal Doc brought to the class before about students' reflection on service learning. So you could use that to compare with service learning with a group and with an individual or something like that. Chris, I can feel your pain. I had a hard time to come up with an outline. I thought about this paper from October but couldn’t have any clue at all and I still do. I saw a couple of articles from the journal Doc brought to the class before about students’ reflection on service learning. So you could use that to compare with service learning with a group and with an individual or something like that.

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by docsfluency http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-17 docsfluency Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:06:35 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-17 I also think the disconnect between the theory found in scholarly writing and the mundane details of connecting with the community is a very ripe topic. The long-term effects are probably a harder nut to crack, but you can find material in the literature on service more generally that suggests one long term effect that is measurable is that people who do some service, any service, before turning 22, are much more likely to make service part of their adult life, whereas people who never try it before 22 are very likely to never serve their community for the rest of their life. Sally Beisser assures me this is an empirical fact. About the unsatisfying part, I will share a story. My daughter came home despondent yesterday. Her best and seemingly only major new friend in Middle School is moving to France. Go figure. So we had a long talk about diversification, which is a principle important to people in politics, business, agriculture, etc, and in the natural world as well. Your emphasis on Frick made you dependent on Sharon and as such, when she bailed out or was pulled away, you were stuck. Is there anything to be said or written about the role of diversification in service-learning? ~Doc I also think the disconnect between the theory found in scholarly writing and the mundane details of connecting with the community is a very ripe topic. The long-term effects are probably a harder nut to crack, but you can find material in the literature on service more generally that suggests one long term effect that is measurable is that people who do some service, any service, before turning 22, are much more likely to make service part of their adult life, whereas people who never try it before 22 are very likely to never serve their community for the rest of their life. Sally Beisser assures me this is an empirical fact.

About the unsatisfying part, I will share a story. My daughter came home despondent yesterday. Her best and seemingly only major new friend in Middle School is moving to France. Go figure. So we had a long talk about diversification, which is a principle important to people in politics, business, agriculture, etc, and in the natural world as well. Your emphasis on Frick made you dependent on Sharon and as such, when she bailed out or was pulled away, you were stuck. Is there anything to be said or written about the role of diversification in service-learning?

~Doc

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by TJ Pawlak http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-16 TJ Pawlak Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:42:03 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-16 The disconnect between the readings and the actual service learning is something I contemplated including in my paper as well. I think that would be a great transition from a section on theory to a section on evidence. I also taught one-on-one, and I think the uniqueness of that experience as opposed to teaching a large or even small group gives us a lot more to write about with regard to actual capabilities of individual users. At the very least, it is a perspective different from those teaching groups and will provide some variety in the sum of the classes efforts on the papers. The disconnect between the readings and the actual service learning is something I contemplated including in my paper as well. I think that would be a great transition from a section on theory to a section on evidence.

I also taught one-on-one, and I think the uniqueness of that experience as opposed to teaching a large or even small group gives us a lot more to write about with regard to actual capabilities of individual users. At the very least, it is a perspective different from those teaching groups and will provide some variety in the sum of the classes efforts on the papers.

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by Sheryl http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-15 Sheryl Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:41:23 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-15 I haven't done any one-on-one service learning, but in some ways, I imagine it would be harder than teaching a class, or observing a class. With a class, you can work from a curriculum, and everyone is there for an agreed upon topic, like Word, or Excel, or Powerpoint. But from reading your blog, it seems like you are much more "directed" by someone if they're your only client. The group I'm working with offers classes up to 25, or small groups, with sometimes only one person showing. You really made me aware that service learning can be vastly different if you *fall* into a program that's already set up, which is what happened to me, or have to find someone that understands what you're trying to do. I haven’t done any one-on-one service learning, but in some ways, I imagine it would be harder than teaching a class, or observing a class. With a class, you can work from a curriculum, and everyone is there for an agreed upon topic, like Word, or Excel, or Powerpoint.

But from reading your blog, it seems like you are much more “directed” by someone if they’re your only client. The group I’m working with offers classes up to 25, or small groups, with sometimes only one person showing.

You really made me aware that service learning can be vastly different if you *fall* into a program that’s already set up, which is what happened to me, or have to find someone that understands what you’re trying to do.

]]> Comment on Reflections Paper by katec http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-14 katec Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:31:53 +0000 http://chrislems.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/reflections-paper/#comment-14 Hi Chris, Sorry to hear that your service learning was not the success you envisioned-a lot of us are in that boat and it's difficult to write about in a constructive way. I'm thinking about examining my initial expectations and then step outside of my reaction in order to see if service learning has really occurred. There are a few oblique ways that it is probably occurring that may not be noted like learning how to approach people or situations you don't know,etc. Looks like you have some good sources in your bibliography and although you may think your experience was unsuccessful you probably have a lot to offer in advice now that you have been through it. Kate Hi Chris,

Sorry to hear that your service learning was not the success you envisioned-a lot of us are in that boat and it’s difficult to write about in a constructive way. I’m thinking about examining my initial expectations and then step outside of my reaction in order to see if service learning has really occurred. There are a few oblique ways that it is probably occurring that may not be noted like learning how to approach people or situations you don’t know,etc. Looks like you have some good sources in your bibliography and although you may think your experience was unsuccessful you probably have a lot to offer in advice now that you have been through it.

Kate

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