Service-Learning Australia

Those of you who are starting to consider service-learning as pedagogy will want to consider projects that are more easily managed.  You might encourage your students to think about projects:

• within the school community
• that develop existing links with the local community (e.g. the local aged care facility that is already visited by the school.)
• that extend existing programs (e.g. Anzac Day, Clean Up Australia Day, Winter Appeals etc.)

Of course, your students could look further afield at service activities that are more global.  The important thing is that students are engaged in activities that they and the community find meaningful, with service goals they can reach and curriculum objectives they can achieve.  The activities should also provide students with the opportunity to identify and analyse different points of view and to understand and respect the diversity of others who are providing the service as well as those being served.