Service Learning
Service learning is a useful method in engaging with the community as well as aiding in student growth and understanding. Different from volunteering, service learning allows students to learn the content and information behind a certain topic. Rather than simply helping the community in a particular area of need, service learning provides students with the opportunity to understand the science or history behind their actions. Being engaged in relevant content is vital to student success because as they learn new concepts and ideas, they are able to apply their learning to real world problems. Thus, their intellect is strengthened by attaching meaning to societal issues. I hope to implement aspects of service learning in my future classroom. As a middle level science and history educator, I will incorporate applicable elements into my lesson plans. For example, in one of my science classes I may teach a lesson on the environment and then take students to a park and encourage a clean-up day. By creating the opportunity to better the community, students will also gain a more wholesome understanding of certain science topics.