Students, Science & Communities Suzanne OConnell Wesleyan University.

Students, Science & CommunitiesStudents, Science & Communities

Suzanne OConnellSuzanne OConnellWesleyan UniversityWesleyan University

Service LearningService LearningBring learning to life & life Bring learning to life & life

to learningto learning No one size fits allNo one size fits all

Make it fit your students, institution and Make it fit your students, institution and communitycommunity

You’re only limited by your imagination You’re only limited by your imagination (oh and resources)(oh and resources)(oh and time)(oh and time)(location) ….. (subject matter) …… etc.(location) ….. (subject matter) …… etc.

StudentsStudents

http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/media/Student_Profile_Main300FLAT.jpg

ScientistScientist

http://pirun.ku.ac.th/~fscinpc/public_html/image/scientist_430.jpg

CommunityCommunity

Why Service Learning?Why Service Learning? Service Learning finds or creates the connectionsService Learning finds or creates the connections

http://www.korthalsaltes.com/model.php?name_en=square%20pyramids

BenefitsBenefitsStudents learn the material better Students learn the material better

& are more likely to share what & are more likely to share what they are doing with – friends, they are doing with – friends, family, students, etc. family, students, etc.

The Community benefits from the The Community benefits from the work and from seeing the diverse work and from seeing the diverse (age, gender, color, religion, attire) (age, gender, color, religion, attire) workforce of scientistsworkforce of scientists

BenefitsBenefitsScience benefits because majors Science benefits because majors

and non-majors have a deeper and non-majors have a deeper understanding of how science is understanding of how science is done and its importance to their done and its importance to their lives.lives.

I benefit, exposure to new ideas, I benefit, exposure to new ideas, interdisciplinary collaboration (even interdisciplinary collaboration (even equipment purchases), see the equipment purchases), see the results (get compliments), stronger results (get compliments), stronger connection to where I live.connection to where I live.

Service LearningService Learning

You’re only limited by your You’re only limited by your imagination imagination

(oh and resources)(oh and resources)(oh and time)(oh and time)(location) ….. (subject matter) …… etc.(location) ….. (subject matter) …… etc.

But seek help with implimentation

SL brings learning to life, SL brings learning to life, challenges the stereotypeschallenges the stereotypes

SL brings learning to life, SL brings learning to life, challenges the stereotypeschallenges the stereotypes No Lab CoatsNo Lab Coats Often not in labOften not in lab Work with people and not aloneWork with people and not alone Equipment doesn’t have to be high techEquipment doesn’t have to be high tech Males and Females participateMales and Females participate No one looks mad/crazy No one looks mad/crazy

DisclaimerDisclaimer Most of my working knowledge of service learning comes Most of my working knowledge of service learning comes

from my institutionfrom my institution Wesleyan is a small, private, liberal arts college (it does Wesleyan is a small, private, liberal arts college (it does

say university) in CTsay university) in CT We are the second largest employer in the town with four We are the second largest employer in the town with four

big employersbig employers Students are fulltime and live on campusStudents are fulltime and live on campus Most students have come directly from high school (they Most students have come directly from high school (they

have parents)have parents) Tuition, room and board = > $50k/yearTuition, room and board = > $50k/year 16% are first generation to go to college16% are first generation to go to college 75% have done advanced work in science, math or foreign 75% have done advanced work in science, math or foreign

languageslanguages About 55% of students receive financial aidAbout 55% of students receive financial aid

What is Service Learning?What is Service Learning? Definitions may vary widelyDefinitions may vary widely

At my institution, At my institution, Learning is essential and the Learning is essential and the learning couldn’t be done without the servicelearning couldn’t be done without the service. (i.e. . (i.e. service is a byproduct)service is a byproduct)

So tutoring doesn’t count because, “What does a So tutoring doesn’t count because, “What does a tutor really learn?”tutor really learn?”

BUTBUT, Science Pedagogy, Psychology of Reading, , Science Pedagogy, Psychology of Reading, Cognition in Preschoolers, are all credit courses with Cognition in Preschoolers, are all credit courses with a teaching/tutoring componenta teaching/tutoring component

Statements from studentsStatements from studentsabout Service Learningabout Service Learning

““If it’s a service learning course If it’s a service learning course you know its going you know its going to be interestingto be interesting” January, 2010, non-science ” January, 2010, non-science student taking 3 service learning courses in one student taking 3 service learning courses in one semester, 1 Sociology and 1 Earth & Environmental semester, 1 Sociology and 1 Earth & Environmental Sciences (major course) and 1 Earth & Environmental Sciences (major course) and 1 Earth & Environmental Science (non-major)Science (non-major)

““Participating in the ‘Oral History of the Portland Participating in the ‘Oral History of the Portland Brownstone Quarry’ will make me a better physician Brownstone Quarry’ will make me a better physician because because I learned to listen to other peopleI learned to listen to other people.” .” December, 2009, student taking 1 service learning December, 2009, student taking 1 service learning classclass

StudentsStudents ““Real World” experience (Real World” experience (I made the decisions I made the decisions

and I made a difference)and I made a difference)

Often work in groups & the groups have to have Often work in groups & the groups have to have resultsresults

Data and interpretations are presented to Data and interpretations are presented to community groups (BIG GROUPS, community groups (BIG GROUPS, community community people are interested in MY scientific resultspeople are interested in MY scientific results))

Written reports go online and everyone can Written reports go online and everyone can read my work (read my work (accountabilityaccountability, and no one , and no one knows (cares?) your grade)knows (cares?) your grade)

Students benefits from Science & Community

StudentsStudents Students take homeStudents take home

Community people are interested in my Community people are interested in my results results my work must be important (or at my work must be important (or at least useful)least useful)

Other decisions will be made on what I Other decisions will be made on what I conclude/sayconclude/say

I developed analytical, writing & presentation I developed analytical, writing & presentation skillsskills

Career skills, and you (the professor) can Career skills, and you (the professor) can comment on them in your referencescomment on them in your references

ScienceScience Science is not confined to a laboratoryScience is not confined to a laboratory

It can be studied and practiced in different locations and It can be studied and practiced in different locations and address problems that directly effect peoples livesaddress problems that directly effect peoples lives

Science can be interesting, Science can be interesting, even funeven fun

Science does mattersScience does matters

I can do science that mattersI can do science that matters

Science benefits from students and communityScience benefits from students and community, more people have a , more people have a better understanding of how science is done and more may want to do it.better understanding of how science is done and more may want to do it.

CommunityCommunity

Partner with college/universityPartner with college/university People who have never been to campus, come to People who have never been to campus, come to

campuscampus Students who have never spoken at a public forum, to a Students who have never spoken at a public forum, to a

civic group, or off-campus, speak in new locationscivic group, or off-campus, speak in new locations

Good publicity (hopefully) for participants (radio, Good publicity (hopefully) for participants (radio, newspaper, blog, TV)newspaper, blog, TV)

Community improves because of Community improves because of college/university effortcollege/university effort

CommunityCommunity

Students are more engaged in their learning Students are more engaged in their learning because they see it as relevantbecause they see it as relevant

Community sees that many kinds of students do Community sees that many kinds of students do science science (& maybe none have a lab coat)(& maybe none have a lab coat)

Community benefits from science and studentsCommunity benefits from science and students

CommunityCommunity Middletown, CTMiddletown, CT

40,000 residents / 2700 students40,000 residents / 2700 students Adjacent to CT River,Adjacent to CT River, Center of CTCenter of CT Financially struggling downtownFinancially struggling downtown School more liberal than townSchool more liberal than town Many, many social servicesMany, many social services 8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school8 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school Some public transportationSome public transportation Lots of restaurantsLots of restaurants Some open space, parks, state Some open space, parks, state

Improve Town-Gown RelationsImprove Town-Gown RelationsAttitude 20 years agoAttitude 20 years ago College is rich, town and residents aren’tCollege is rich, town and residents aren’t College doesn’t pay taxes, residents doCollege doesn’t pay taxes, residents do College people weren’t born here, Residents were (even College people weren’t born here, Residents were (even

if they won't)if they won't)

~ 16 years ago “Real Residents” vs. Wesleyan ~ 16 years ago “Real Residents” vs. Wesleyan employee/residentsemployee/residents

~14 years ago new president (Bennett) realized ~14 years ago new president (Bennett) realized importance of town relationshipsimportance of town relationshipsFirst service learning courseFirst service learning courseFollowed by Office of Community PartnershipFollowed by Office of Community PartnershipCommunity Advisory Board/residentsCommunity Advisory Board/residents

How to begin/continueHow to begin/continue

Single course, establish a track recordSingle course, establish a track recordStart with a half credit course? Start with a half credit course? Include one SL exercise in a course you’ve Include one SL exercise in a course you’ve

been teachingbeen teachingBe your own PR personBe your own PR person

Get help from Campus Compact, people in this Get help from Campus Compact, people in this course, administrationcourse, administration

Demonstrate improved class/information/attitudeDemonstrate improved class/information/attitudeGet students to advocateGet students to advocate

How to begin/continueHow to begin/continue Seek institutional supportSeek institutional support

Recognition – Carnegie Classification (Positive Recognition – Carnegie Classification (Positive publicity for Institution)publicity for Institution)

Career OfficeCareer OfficeAlumniAlumniTransportation, materials, contactsTransportation, materials, contacts

Once you have a track record, the community may Once you have a track record, the community may come to your rescue. Wesleyan example.come to your rescue. Wesleyan example.Community Volunteers to sit the phoneCommunity Volunteers to sit the phoneTransportation from other groups, e.g. retirement Transportation from other groups, e.g. retirement

community vanscommunity vans

StudentsStudents Students are more engagedStudents are more engaged

Other people care about their workOther people care about their workDecisions will be made based on their workDecisions will be made based on their workThere is no formula to follow – they have to make There is no formula to follow – they have to make

the plan and carry it outthe plan and carry it outOther people think they’re a scientist (maybe?)Other people think they’re a scientist (maybe?)

They develop citizen & science skillsThey develop citizen & science skillsAddress a problemAddress a problemCollect dataCollect dataAnalyze & interpret dataAnalyze & interpret dataPresent results – speaking skillsPresent results – speaking skillsPresent results – writing skillsPresent results – writing skills

Our ModelOur Model Received small grant from Surdna FoundationReceived small grant from Surdna Foundation Established Established Center for Community PartnershipCenter for Community Partnership

Full time Director of Volunteerism, coordinates all Full time Director of Volunteerism, coordinates all volunteer and paid volunteer activities (several hundred a volunteer and paid volunteer activities (several hundred a semester)semester)

Full Time Director of the Center and Community Full Time Director of the Center and Community Outreach, meets with civic groups (Chamber, Boards, Outreach, meets with civic groups (Chamber, Boards, Social Service Groups)Social Service Groups)

0.73 time AA (full time during academic year), pays 0.73 time AA (full time during academic year), pays students, orders supplies, arranges transportation, students, orders supplies, arranges transportation, handles accounts for Service Learning Professors, and handles accounts for Service Learning Professors, and other community related tasksother community related tasks

Half time director of Service LearningHalf time director of Service Learning

Our ModelOur ModelDirector of Service learningDirector of Service learning

Assist Faculty developing service learning courseAssist Faculty developing service learning course

Give at least one presentation /year to faculty about service learningGive at least one presentation /year to faculty about service learning

Visit departments and encourage them to think about service learning classesVisit departments and encourage them to think about service learning classes

Approach faculty if I have an idea, or translate an idea from a community Approach faculty if I have an idea, or translate an idea from a community member.member.

Make sure there are funds for faculty education, equipment, field trips, bring in Make sure there are funds for faculty education, equipment, field trips, bring in speakers.speakers.

We’ve been adding about 5 service learning courses/year.We’ve been adding about 5 service learning courses/year.

AchievementsAchievements

McDonough School (K-6) – biggest gains in state achievement McDonough School (K-6) – biggest gains in state achievement teststests

Annotated GIS maps for open space planning and trail locationAnnotated GIS maps for open space planning and trail location

Water quality analysis and recommendations for the YMCA Water quality analysis and recommendations for the YMCA swimming pondswimming pond

Recommendations for the landfill methaneRecommendations for the landfill methane

Student effort to get other students to ride the bus – all first year Student effort to get other students to ride the bus – all first year students now receive bus information and are encouraged to take students now receive bus information and are encouraged to take the busthe bus

Our ModelOur Model Director of Service learningDirector of Service learning Assist faculty developing or wanting to develop a service Assist faculty developing or wanting to develop a service

learning courselearning course Give at least one presentation /year to faculty about Give at least one presentation /year to faculty about

service learningservice learning Arrange presentation at Commencement & Reunion Arrange presentation at Commencement & Reunion Visit departments and encourage them to think about Visit departments and encourage them to think about

service learning classesservice learning classes Approach faculty if I have an idea, or translate an idea Approach faculty if I have an idea, or translate an idea

from a community member.from a community member. Make sure there are funds for faculty education, Make sure there are funds for faculty education,

equipment, field trips, bring in speakers.equipment, field trips, bring in speakers. We’ve been adding about 5 service learning courses/year.We’ve been adding about 5 service learning courses/year.

Service Learning in the Geosciences => Service Learning in the Geosciences => Broader (better?) learning outcomes, Wider Broader (better?) learning outcomes, Wider

interpretation of science and who does science, & interpretation of science and who does science, & Community participation Community participation

http://www.planetpals.com/recyclesymbols.html

Service Learning in the Geosciences => Service Learning in the Geosciences => Broader (better?) learning outcomes, Wider Broader (better?) learning outcomes, Wider

interpretation of science and who does science, & interpretation of science and who does science, & Community participation Community participation

http://www.planetpals.com/recyclesymbols.html

& its really a lot more fun

Students, Science & Communities Suzanne OConnell Wesleyan University.

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