Syllabus MCT Service Learning Seminar, Spring 2010

Instructor: Colleen Kane

Office: DHC 015 Office Hours: By appointment Email: [email protected]

Course Overview:

This seminar is designed to introduce students to the concepts of service-learning and the value of participating in a national service program. Emphasis will be placed on participation, reflection, discussion, and the development of citizenship skills. Topics to be addressed include citizenship in democratic society, community action, client groups served, and services provided.

Course Objectives:

To define and understand different concepts and definitions of citizenship, community, volunteerism, and service learning.

To expose students to various techniques and rationales for addressing community needs through hands-on volunteer service, readings, and discussion.

To encourage students to identify their professional, personal, and academic needs and to find ways to meet those needs through continued community service.

To instill an ethic of life-long service, community participation, citizenship, and civic responsibility.

Course Theme: Service Learning

Service learning is the integration of meaningful community service into classroom curriculum in which students are meeting an identified community need and learning to connect the concepts and theories discussed in the classroom with real-life learning experiences.

Texts:

To be provided Electronically

Course Requirements:

- Participation in Online Discussion: Deconstructing and analyzing the texts and their significance will occupy the bulk of our time this semester and it is imperative that you participate in discussions having read carefully the texts you are assigned, and having completed any assignments. You will also be asked to think carefully and comment thoughtfully on your classmates’ online comments. Each student is required to respond to 3 of 5 posted questions and comment on 1 response posted by your classmates. Initial responses are due on Wednesday and the additional comment is due by Friday of each week. If you are serving in an 2

area without internet access please notify Colleen BEFORE the due date. We will make arrangements on a case by case basis in these circumstances.

- Assignments: See below for the details of the various kinds of assignments you will be doing for the semester. : Turn in assignments by their due dates. If this is impossible because of lack of internet service you must notify Colleen ((406)-243-5128, [email protected] ) BEFORE the assigned due date.

o Final Paper Proposal: One paragraph outlining the topic for your final paper will be due on March 5th. Include any observation techniques you will use to find information for your topic in this proposal. o Final Paper: The final paper should address a question you have about your service as a Missoula Children’s Theatre Tour Actor, for example: teaching theater to children with disabilities, teaching theater as a form of service, teaching techniques used to effectively teach theater. The final paper will be between three and five pages and will cite at least two outside sources.

Grading Policies:

This class will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Failure will result in the incompletion of your Campus Corps Service. Participation is required in discussions and assignments in order to pass the class. We will be in communication with anyone who is failing to meet these requirements.

Class Schedule and Assignments:

2/15: Class preparation- read John Dewey’s piece “Experience and Thinking”

2/22: Class preparation –read Paul Loeb’s chapter “We Don’t Have to be Saints”

3/1: Class preparation – read “Saving the Crippled Boy” and review discussion questions

3/5: Final Paper Proposals Due. Email proposals to Colleen: [email protected]

3/8: Class preparation: Service Continuum – what is “service”

3/15: Class preparation – read “The Sweetness of Charity” and “To Hell with Good Intentions”

3/22: Class preparation –read “Where Were We”

3/29: Class preparation –read “The Eleventh”.

4/5: Class preparation – read “The Fellowship”

4/12: Class preparation – read “The Use of Force”

4/19: Class preparation: Research an organization similar to where you are doing your service. What are they doing that is similar? What is different? Does one have advantages over the other? Can you make any recommendations to your service organization? 3

4/26: Class preparation: Should some type of national service (military, AmeriCorps, etc) be mandatory for US citizens? Write down your thoughts – be sure you have some supportive arguments for each side.

5/3: Final papers due!