Learning classroom skills while serving the community

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October 18, 2009

PERCY BLAND The Meridian Star Sun Oct 18, 2009, 12:34 AM CDT

Service-learning is a teaching and learning method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. The academic skills taught in the classroom are used to create a community service project to impact real community issues, such as safety, hunger or diversity. It’s a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.

Service-learning provides a context for talking about learning in terms of not only what students know but also what they are able to do. Critical to this type of learning is building in the time for students to reflect on their service experience. Reflection time helps the students make the connection between classroom and community learning to ensure they understand the extent to which they can impact positive change.

Service-learning builds stronger academic skills. First, students take an active role in determining how the projects are identified and accomplished, creating interest and excitement for learning. Second, service-learning accommodates many different learning styles.

By teaching students early about the role they can play in their community, service-learning also encourages lifelong civic participation. By relating academic activities to real-life experiences, service-learning improves workplace skills and enhances personal development among youth. Finally, service-learning gives students a sense of competency. They see themselves as active contributors to their community and learning experiences rather than passive recipients of adult decisions.

State Farm believes that strong communities begin with strong schools and a community investment in the lives and futures of our young people. Therefore, our involvement in the communities where we live and work makes service-learning a perfect extension of those beliefs.

For more information about State Farm’s involvement in service-learning and our other Education Excellence initiatives, stop by my office or visit statefarm.com® .

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