EDTS 542 - Building Student Character Through Service Learning

With its focus on problem-solving and authentic, real-world application, service learning is one of the most significant ways to introduce your students to the skills they’ll need to thrive in today’s classrooms and tomorrow’s careers. Service learning combines learning goals and community service in ways that can enhance your students’ engagement with and achievement in academic and civic matters.

In this course, you’ll learn how to integrate service learning principles and opportunities into your curriculum and design effective instruction, projects, and reflection opportunities that will hone your students’ skills in collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. You’ll examine strategies for incorporating relevant topics that will meaningfully engage your students, and for overcoming any challenges associated with creating service learning opportunities. In addition, you’ll gain tools for encouraging participation from family members, community members, and local organizations in student-driven service projects.

Using the techniques from this course, you’ll be able to use service learning to engage your students in community-based projects that will demonstrate the significance of civic engagement and creating social change.