Service-Learning Australia

Before students start the service activity, it is useful to undertake a  pre-action overview to confirm that a number of issues have been addressed.

You need to confirm that:

• The service activity will have the desired impact on the community and the students, as established in the baseline and identified in the broad range of learning goals.
• Students know about the community they are about to serve and have reflected on the problem they are addressing in context.
• Roles have been decided and each student has a meaningful role to play.
• Students know the mission of the community agency with which they will be working (if appropriate).
• The community partner/s understands and supports the service goals and learning goals the students hope to achieve and are involved in the planning process.
• A method for monitoring the progress and process has been established.
• Community partners are clear on the outcomes they want to achieve, and have a method of evaluating the effectiveness of the program from their perspective.  
• Students have been given guidance on how to perform their service tasks and how to behave appropriately.
• There is a process in place that all students are aware of in case of accident/injury etc.
• Transportation has been arranged (if necessary).
• There are enough adult supervisors.
• Risk assessments have been conducted.
• Permission forms have been obtained.