Quarterly Service-Learning
A publication of the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center
Puppet Shows Make A Difference! “For me, having diabetes means that I have a problem with the sugar in my blood,” explained Kids on the Block, Inc. puppet Christine to her friend Nam. Manipulated by students in Rebecca Dumlao and Deborah Thompson’s service-learning course titled Puppet Shows Make A Difference. Christine and Nam educated youth at Operation Sunshine about issues pertaining to diabetes. Two additional puppets, Michael and Jason, discussed healthy eating habits. The show at Operation Sunshine was one of nine spring performances at local after school programs; ECU students enrolled in the puppet course spent the first half of the semester learning to control the puppets, lend their voices to the characters, and provide accurate, kid-friendly responses to frequently asked questions.
In the photograph at right, Christine explains to Nam how she checks her blood sugar and administers her insulin injections.
Community Partner Spotlight The Center for Family Violence Prevention is a non profit organization based out of Greenville. The Center’s mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence while enhancing individual self-sufficiency and promoting healthy family relationships. The Center for Family Violence Prevention offers counseling for victims and their families, provides court advocates who assist victims in legal matters, and provides treatment programs. Their safe house, New Directions, provides victims and their families safe shelter and prepares them to be self-sufficient. Other services include a displaced homemaker program and an abuse in later life program, which address’ family violence issues affecting people age 50 and older. Service-learning students can get involved with the Center for Family Violence by supporting special events, working at My Sister’s Closet retail store, facilitating supply drives (www.c4fvp.org/donate-items), or creating independent projects. To learn more about the Center for Family Violence Prevention, or to get involved visit: www.c4fvp.org/home Next Spotlight: Creative Living Center
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Service-Learning Spotlight Adam Denney Service-Leraning Associate
Publications of Interest Quarterly Reflection Activity
Call for Proposals Grants & Funding Opportunities Conferences & Events
East Carolina University
Service-Learning Spotlight
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“If we have learned one thing from our past, it is that to live through dramatic events is not enough; one has to share them and transform them into acts of conscience” ~Elie Wiesel
As his year of service comes to an end, we asked service-learning associate Adam Denney (pictured left) to reflect on his experience. Why did you apply to be a service-learning associate? I feel like the main reason I applied for this position was because of my stagnation. I started to think all I did was go to class and attend ECU sporting events. I wanted to be involved in something I could feel passionate about. My friend, Michael Kratzer, mentioned this opportunity. He explained what the position entailed and some of the things that I would be accomplishing during the time I was working for the VSLC. I wasn’t exactly sure if this was something I wanted to take on. Then he went into detail about the depth and enthusiasm he had for what he was doing and what it meant to the community. I saw the feelings that he was expressing I knew this was something I wanted to be involved in. I wanted to pass this same type of emotion to other students at ECU. Has the position been what you expected? Why or why not? As I begin to reach the end of my time with the VSLC as a service-learning associate it’s only appropriate to begin to reflect on my own experience. I don’t think one expectation I had going into this position wasn’t fulfilled. Through the interaction with those in the center, to the students and staff I was working with I couldn’t have asked for a better connection. One major thing that was special about my position was the support from those who worked in the VSLC. I don’t know if without their insight I would have felt the same way about the experience. What surprised you the most during your year of service? What surprised me the most was the responses that we received on our blog. The blog was a reflection method that my professor wanted to implement into our service-learning requirements for class. At times it becomes hard to get students involved in expressing their feelings in a classroom setting. This basically allowed the students to show and share their stories without having to do it in a group setting. The posts solidified to me the importance of service-learning because it made the experience real for the students; they could make the connection we are looking for in service-learning. Has your experience impacted your leadership style or skills? The real skill that I think was enhanced was my ability to guide a discussion. I was petrified to have to stand in front of peers and my professor and have conversations about topics and ideas. I don’t think it was because I didn’t think that I could do it, it was just something that I jumped into quickly without realizing that I was going to be speaking with 100 students per class. It naturally took time to hone this skill but I feel that with the training and the support from my advisors I began to make each reflection more relatable to class concepts and service-learning. What closing thoughts do you have for your students? I try to tell my students how much they have meant to me during this experience. Being able to interact with peers has been one of the greatest facets of being a service-learning associate. I can only think there are two things I would like to say to them. The first being “thank you,” it has meant so much to me. The last being that I hope this has made them stop and think. The smiles, friendships, and bonds they have made are real and the connections can be everlasting.
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Quarterly Reflection Activity
Publications of Interest
Leveraging the Learning in Service-Learning
New: Bringle, R., Hatcher, J., & Jones, S. (Eds.). (2011). International Service-Learning: Conceptual Frameworks and Research. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Lisa Maag, Assistant Professor, Psychology
When nearly 300 psychology students are allowed to select their own service learning projects they find myriad ways to help the local community: working with preschoolers, tutoring elementary school students, visiting older adults, and providing many other forms of kindness. With these ECU Pirates involved in so many community projects, it’s hard to appreciate the combined effect of their efforts. That’s where the service learning blog comes in.
Free: Cress, C., Burack, C., Giles, D., Elkins, J., & Stevens, M. (2010) Promising Connections: Increasing College Access and Success through Civic Engagement. Boston, MA: Campus Compact. www.compact.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/A-Promising-Connection-corrected.pdf.
Rather than writing for the instructor, students are empowered by writing for each other. Some hesitate to share their writing in public, but after reading their peers’ posts they realize that they have worthwhile thoughts to share. With students from three sections contributing, they interact with peers they wouldn’t otherwise have encountered. Emily Parker, a sophomore in Recreational Therapy, has been helping at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and commented, “it’s interesting to see what others from the same organization have to say.” The blog allows students to hear about new opportunities. According to Corinna Rios, a junior majoring in psychology, the blog “gives us a chance to see how other students are making a difference in the community.” She’s noted some community partners that she wants to contact in the future to gain more career-related experience. Ultimately, the blog shows that these ECU students are making the world a better place. The individual accomplishments may sound small, whether they mean helping a child succeed in school or bringing comfort to someone who is lonely—but the cumulative effect is inspiring, and available on the blog: http://blog.ecu.edu/sites/maagpsyc3206spring2011/ service-learning-report-3/
Quarterly Reflection Activity
Currently, and for the past four semesters, my students in developmental psychology (PSYC 3206) have engaged in service learning. The main goal is for students to gain a deeper understanding of human development, and a student-written blog showcases the results. One benefit of blogging is that students who are reluctant to speak up in the classroom feel much more at ease posting online. Those who might write only the minimum for a typical assignment have become expansive in the blog, describing their observations and feelings in-depth. Hearing about developmental issues from peers seems to give the concepts more impact. Amanda Mutio (a sophomore majoring in psychology with a gerontology minor) praised the blog because “I not only get to share my experience with my classmates but I also get to learn about what other people in my class have done. It’s amazing what students can gain from simply volunteering.”
Forthcoming: Cress, C. & Donahue, D. (2011). Democratic Dilemmas of Teaching Service-Learning: Curricular Strategies for Success. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
Call for Proposals AIDemocracy Student Journal AIDemocracy invites youth in high school, college or graduate school to provide thoughtful analysis on the US role in the world ten years after 9/11. What should our role in this world be? What have we done well? What can we do better? Submissions can be any of the following formats: text, photo, video or audio, and should be a minimum of 1000 words or 5 minutes running time. Submit an abstract of your idea to journal@ aidemocracy.org. Abstracts accepted on a rolling basis, and authors will be notified of a decision within 10 days of their submission. Learn more at: www.aidemocracy.org/.
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Grants and Funding Opportunities The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for environmental education projects and programs. EPA expects to award at least 20 grants nationwide ranging from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $100,000. The grants provide financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. For more information, go to: www.epa.gov/enviroed/ grants.html. Application Deadline: May 2, 2011
Conferences and Events In Case You Missed It:
Paul Loeb’s Community Lecture from the 8th Annual ECU Conference on ServiceLearning can be viewed online at: http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/ofe/ Spring11.cfm.
14th Annual Continuums of Service Conference April 27-29, 2011, Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel San Diego, California www.wacampuscompact.org/cosconference/. Second International Institute on Partnerships May 23-25, 2011, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon www.pdx.edu/cae/international-institute-partnerships. Community College National Center for Community Engagement 2011 Annual National Conference May 25-27, 2011, DoubleTree Paradise Valley Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona www.mesacc.edu/other/engagement/2011Conf/ConfInfo.shtml. Community Work Institute’s 11th Annual Summer Easter Institute on Service-Learning July 18-22, 2011, Shelbourne Farms, Shelbourne, Vermont www.communityworksinstitute.org/.
Volunteer and Service-Learning Center Old Cafeteria Complex 252.328.2735 (phone) 252.328.0139 (fax) www.ecu.edu/vslc • vslc@ecu.edu Judy Baker, Institutional and Community Development Consultant Jessica Gagne Cloutier, Service-Learning Coordinator Michael Loeffelman, Volunteer Coordinator Shawn Moore, Community Partner Coordinator Alice Tyson, Office Manager Katie Winn, AmeriCorps*VISTA
Spring Edition 2011