Combining course objectives with experiential service learning
What is Academic Service Learning? Academic Service Learning (ASL) is a pedagogical approach that seeks to meet the course learning objectives in and through application of academic skills and knowledge-base of the course to a real community need. As a teaching and learning strategy, ASL integrates meaningful community service as medium of instruction to enrich the student learning experiences, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. As a Franciscan institution of higher education Siena is called to place the process of creating and acquiring knowledge in dialogue with the suffering present in our communities. Fr. Michael Blastic O.F.M writes, “Our intellectual endeavors must be in conversation with the suffering in our local and national communities so as to provide a real experiential basis for asking and reflecting on the big questions of our day, questions that exercised the early Franciscans themselves.” ASL at Siena includes all forms of academic teaching and learning in which learning outcomes of an academic course or project are met in whole or in part through meaningful service to a community-based organization. The ASL Program assists Faculty through training, design assistance, managing community partner relations, identification of community partner needs, building ASL networks of faculty across the region, and student and community partner training and development.
First Year Seminar
Marketing and Management
Professor John Harden teaches the First Year Seminar, a year long class designed to mentor freshman on both academics and character. In addition, Dr. Harden also teaches a GED writing course to adults in the South End of Albany at St. John’s/St. Ann’s Outreach Center. He had the idea to bring the two groups together once a week for a combined writing workshop, with the belief that the two groups would have much to learn from one another. The combined workshop is called “Bridge to College” and pairs a member of the GED class with a freshman Siena student. Together they create a written piece. “We converse, we debate, we open a dialogue and it enhances my writing,” said one student. Professor Harden echoed the idea “when you write with someone you are exploring their world view and examining your own.”
Professor Paul Thurston teaches a Marketing & Management class. He saw the opportunity to do something amazing for the community and give his students hands-on experience in their field by having them organize a fundraiser for Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless. The fundraiser is none other than Interfaith’s Stomp Out Homelessness. Although the fundraiser previously existed, Professor Thurston’s class arranged for it to be hosted on Siena’s campus as a women’s basketball event. The class did the marketing and outreach for Stomp Out Homelessness. They also helped with raffle ticket and t-shirt sales. In its first year at Siena in 2010 the event raised more than $2,220 in t-shirt sales alone. In 2011, Professor Thurston’s class worked hard at reaching out to other schools in the area to participate and the event raised $4,365 for Interfaith.
ACE Annual Report Page 14