Urban Ed Resources • Service Learning

The Service-Learning Resource Center at the Peace Corps Fellows Program office in Russel 408 holds a variety of books, teacher's manuals, student field guides, past project documents, and project samples, among other things. Current fellows, alumni of the program, and program partners are encouraged to browse through these resources or make an appointment with our service-learning coordinator for a guided search.

On-Line Service-Learning Resources

There is a wealth of information available through internet service-learning resources as well. Efforts to introduce service-learning into educational institutions at all levels (PK-16) constitute a nation-wide movement in education. There is an extensive network of service-learning organizations working through schools, universities, governments, and NGOs. The following list of on-line resources is drawn from this network. Check out these links for more information about Service Learning project components, established effective practices, support-organizations, field research, and much more.

NATIONAL NETWORKS

1. http://www.servicelearning.org
The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse has an easy-to-use, searchable database of about 1,000 links in over 40 topic areas to quality service and service-learning websites, updated daily, including extensive links to reflection activities, ideas, and resources

2. http://www.nylc.org
National Youth Leadership Council
Check out their resources on service-learning and youth leadership in general

3. http://www.service-learningpartnership.org
"A nationwide network of members advancing service-learning as a core part of every young person's education"
Resources: Teaching resources (getting started; curricula; methods/tools for reflection and assessment; maintaining standards), program sustainability (professional development; maintaining community partners; incorporating student voice), links to funding and events, networking and organizing change, publications-'

STATE/CITY PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS

4. http://web.gc.cuny.edu/dept/case/lsc
"Infusing character education and service learning into academics in New York State" - This website documents the successful service-learning experiences in New York state and contains excellent resources, including an elaborate list of projects and curricula.

5. http://www.nysslli.org
The New York State Service Learning Leadership Institutes are service learning organizations developed and funded through the New York State Education Department Office of K-16 Initiatives and Access Programs Pre-Collegiate Preparation Programs Unit. The institutes were established to promote and support service learning at the regional level. There are four institutes promoting the methodology across New York State: the Capitol Region Institute, the Mid-Hudson Institute, the New York Metropolitan Institute, and the Finger Lakes Institute.

6. http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dltcl/bbfcsp/slhmpage.html
Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction -- service-learning homepage
Resources: Events and opportunities, grants, resources for youth advocacy and leadership, examples of projects, curriculum ideas, powerpoints, standards and research, definition and philosophy, SL listserv, links, news, and more-'

7. http://www.doe.mass.edu/csl/comlesson.pdf
Massachusetts Dept. of Education
An elaborate compilation of successful service-learning projects from elementary through high school in Massachusetts.

8. http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/shabazz/sl/slintro.html
This award winning public school in Madison is a national demonstration project for service-learning. This small website contains: Benefits of service-learning, project examples, and a narrative of what service-learning is like at this school.

9. http://www.mssa.sailorsite.net
The Maryland Student Service Alliance -This website has service-learning resources and good great project ideas from the Maryland network.

10. http://bostonteachnet.org/models2001.htm
"Connecting Classrooms-Communities-Careers through Service-Learning"
In 1995 the Boston School Committee approved a plan to integrate service-learning in the Boston public schools, and many results have been produced since then. This great site is a network of teachers that provide in-depth descriptions of their projects. Each description explains how the project integrates citizenship goals to curricular learning standards, educates students on career opportunities, and provides a thorough list of methods, tools, and resources that were used.

NGOs, CENTERS, INSTITUTES

11. http://crf-usa.org/network/network11_1/net11_1_home.html
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Service-Learning Network -- Building Civic-Education Coalitions -- "Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) is a non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization dedicated to educating America's young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society." -- from website
Resources: Lesson plans, curricular materials, articles, information about workshops and conferences, book reviews, talking points on civic education-' Especially good for civics, government, and history class.

12. http://www.vermontcommunityworks.org
On-Line Resource Center: Tools, Resources, and Support for Educators
"Our Mission is to promote exemplary teaching strategies, practices, programs and models that support students becoming caring, responsible and active members of their communities." -- from website
Resources: Announcements for conferences, institutes, etc., curricular examplars, many on-line tools and resources for service-learning, publications, services-'

13. http://www.nslexchange.org/
The National Service Learning Exchange
"The National Service-Learning Exchange supports high quality service-learning programs in schools, colleges and universities, and community organizations." - from website
The website hooks you up to this network, which operates a Peer Mentor program for faculty and administrators seeking help in service learning.

14. http://www.igesl.org/
Institute for Service-Learning and Global Education
"Committed to empowering learners of all ages to take an active role in improving their communities-' The Institute for Global Education & Service-Learning (IGESL) is a non-profit organization that provides training and technical assistance to schools, community organizations, and National Service programs. The Institute is one of thirteen agencies named in the National and Community Service Act of 1993 as a central resource for service-learning programs. It is the Atlantic Regional Center for the National Service Learning Exchange and the hosting agency for national and international service-learning conferences."

15. http://learningindeed.org/index.html
Learning in Deed -- of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation
"The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1998 launched Learning In Deed, a national initiative to engage more young people in service to others as part of their academic life. -' Working with teachers, administrators, community leaders, parents, students, policymakers and national leaders, the Foundation is committing substantial resources to this effort."
Resources: tools, comprehensive S-L Toolkit, Newsroom, S-L research, Links-'

16. http://www.compact.org/resources/service-learning_resources/
"Campus Compact has been a leader in the service-learning movement since its inception... Campus Compact's service-learning resources help students, faculty members, service-learning staff, and others create strong programs across academic disciplines."

OTHER Service-Learning RESOURCES

17. http://www.character.org
The Character Education Partnership (CEP) is a nonpartisan coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing moral character and civic virtue in our nation's youth as one means of creating a more compassionate and responsible society.

18. http://www.compact.org/syllabi
Designed for higher education, but quite applicable to HS in many cases.
Resources: service-learning syllabi, program models, online databases, statistics, mentoring information, links and listservs, articles-'

19. http://www.soultwist.com/ben/seams
A service-learning coursebook for Math developed by professors of the University of Minnesota

ON REFLECTION

20. http://www.compact.org/disciplines/reflection/
The purpose of this site is to provide guidance to educators on using structured reflection to enhance the learning from service experiences.

21. http://www.uvm.edu/~dewey/reflection_manual/
Reflection manual written by Julie Reed & Christopher Koliba which includes a guide for understanding and facilitating reflection as well as various reflection activities.

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