5 stages that enable efficient service learning

Investigation:

• Communicate with the service/GC to find out their needs
• Look at the specific roles
• Look at the root causes
• Find out people’s skills

Preparation:

• Communicate with partners to set clear goals that meet their needs
• Define quantitative and qualitative indicators to measure success
• Articulate a week-by-week plan that outlines roles, responsibility, resources needed to achieve goals
• Minutes

Action:

• Direct; Volunteering, going on service trips
• Indirect; Fundraising, donation drives
• Advocacy; raising awareness through social events
• Research; resources for the community, solutions for issues

Reflection:

• Describe what happened
• Revisit goals and indicators to examine the difference made
• Discuss thoughts and feelings
• Look at feedback from partners
• SWOT analysis
• Consider project improvements

Demonstration:

• Report to peers, faculty members, partners
• Write articles or letters to local newspapers
• Creation of publication to help others learn
• Presentations or performances
• Create displays (art, photography)

Image Citation: 10, 2012 DiscoverECSL on September. “The Five Stages of Service Learning: A Dynamic Process.” Discover ECSL, 2 Oct. 2012, discoverecsl.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/the-five-stages-of-service-learning/.