Topic: Service-learning as a pedagogy of change
What will future brings us and what we as educators should do to equip children for the unpredictable future? Are there ways how to engage students into learning while they make meaningful changes – personal as well as collective ones? Is the emphasis on the facts, definitions, information or a different kind of learning experience that will shape attitudes, knowledge and skills? There are many questions, still their purpose is to be ready and explore approaches how learning can be more engaging, meaningful and contextualized for children and youth within the community. Here we will explore the meaning of Service-Learning, why we have connection of the service and the learning. Also we will show the potential and the possibilities of Service-Learning pedagogy from the perspective of neuroscience, contribution to the community development and civic engagement.
Key words: Service-Learning, experiential learning, civic engagement, competences, cooperation, student participation.
Topic: How to start with service-learning in my school/organization
Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that combines meaningful volunteer service in the community with education and reflection. Before you decide to start with service-learning in school or organization, it is important to be aware of a few key facts that may affect your intentions and that you should think about. For a successful start, we offer you the opportunity to think with us, to be inspired by practical examples and to find the first steps to get started.
Lecturers: Jana Šolcová/The Platform of Volunteer Centres and Organizations Janka Mojšová/ALTERNATÍVA - Centrum nezávislého života, n. o.
Topic: Setting up learning and service objectives in your service-learning project
One of the first steps in planning a service-learning project is to set specific, relevant and achievable objectives, those focused on the learning of the participants as well as of the community service activities. Why is it so? It is because having a clear idea about these objectives will be beneficial in choosing the right approach and methodology, defining what steps need to be planned, deciding about when to involve the youngsters and how to communicate with partners, organising the documentation and the evaluation, and so on. It is crucial to understand the difference between addressing the learning needs and goals of the young people and the service objectives that they aim to achieve in the course of a service-learning project. This workshop will help you to have a deeper understanding of what you and the young people you work with want and can accomplish through a service-learning project, besides providing you space to share your ideas, and develop you own potential project’s learning and service goals.
Lecturer: Boglárka Meggyesfalvi/OKA
Topic: Reflection in service-learning
Reflection is a critical part of any learning process. But let's face it, taking a moment to stand still and think in a fast paced time is not easy for everyone. This is why we decided to offer an interactive and fun activity, using a simple card game, that can help you guide the young people you work with to really dig up the treasures they accumulated and support in using them in the future. Designed for service-learning, but easily applied in all your projects. Join this workshop to find out more!
Lecturer: Diana Bere/Provobis
Topic: Role of the tutor/teacher in service-learning
One of the principles of the Service-learning methodology is youth leadership, but still the role of a tutor in the whole process is crucial. It is often difficult for youth workers and teachers to give the leadership to young people and they often do not know how to do that. Another challenge for them is to decide how exactly should they react and get involved in the project when they see some obstacles and risks. During the workshop we will discuss a few case-studies and we will answer to the question: what does it mean to be a good tutor in a Service-learning project?
Lecturer: Anna Walas, Olga Ślifirska, Volunteer Centre, Warsaw
Topic: How to design a service-learning project relevant for the community? / Need assessment in service-learning
A well-established, planned and implemented needs assessment impacts the overall quality and success of a service-learning project. In its core it ensures the greatest possible participation of the community to whom the project is aimed. During the workshop participants will be introduced with what is a need assessment, how it can be done and how to use its results to have a relevant and successful service-learning project. The workshop will also focus on principles that should be incorporated in a need assessment to accomplish an authentic service-learning project lead by youth. Participants will also have a chance to discuss existing experiences in conducting need assessments and reflect upon good examples of need assessments in service-learning projects.
Lecturers: Marta Hauser and Tamara Fabac, Association for Civil Society Development SMART, Croatia