Seven Misconceptions about How Students Learn: Game-Changers for Authentic Learning
Just read another article that hit home for me. “Seven Misconceptions about How Students Learn,” written by Valerie Strauss at the Washington Post.
It discusses the misconceptions that many people believe about education, that are blocking true learning. Over the past few decades we have learned a lot about how students learn and these misconceptions don’t fit with the science.
Here is the list of misconceptions and Strauss’s comments on each. (more…)
A Crucible Moment: a Report, a Conversation, a Recommitment to Civic Learning and Engagement
This afternoon in Washington D.C. an event, “For Democracy’s Future: Education Reclaims Our Civic Mission,” kicked-off a national conversation on the importance of informed and engaged citizens.
The event marked the release of the U.S. Department of Education’s own report, “Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy: A Road Map and Call to Action,” and highlights the American Commonwealth Partnership, which brings together schools, colleges and other civic partners to promote civic learning and civic identity throughout American education.
Individuals representing many groups from campuses and communities dedicated to reinvigorating democratic engagement gathered for the afternoon’s kick-off. (more…)
Sure, Absolute Power Corrupts, but Empowering Others…Absolutely Different Results: Try Service-Learning to Cultivate a Commitment To Learning by Youth and Adults
The seventh 21st Century Skill supported by service-learning:
“Cultivate an ongoing commitment to learning.”
Cultivate—I appreciate the verb in this context and what it connotes. There is a metaphor for gardening suggested—for nurturing and growing and stewardship—that I think is appropriate.
So how and why does service-learning cultivate that commitment? As usual, lots of answers to a question like that. (more…)
Civic Engagement Through Service Learning and 21st Century Skills: Not Preparation for Life, but Life Itself
“Participate in civic life and democratic decision-making.” This is the sixth on the list of seven 21st Century Skills that students demonstrate and develop through service learning. You can read the discussion of the first of five skills on the list (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ) by using the links in the parentheses or by scrolling down through this blog.
I’m reminded of John Dewey when I read, “Participate in civic life and democratic decision-making.” Dewey told us that, “Education is not preparation for life but is life itself.” (This quote, which is how I usually see it in print, is truncated—here is the whole thing.) (more…)
Top Reasons Service-Learning Promotes Being Creative and Entrepreneurial: 21st Century Skills In Action
Primarily, it’s because the answers are not in the back of the book.
There. That is why service learning develops the 21st Century Skills of being creative and entrepreneurial. (click for the list of seven 21st Century Skills students develop and demonstrate through service learning.) Giving students the freedom to dream of new solutions encourages them to be creative and entrepreneurial.
For example, when a class of middle school students started to investigate the amount of waste generated in their cafeteria by sorting and weighing the contents of the trash bags—don’t worry, everyone wore gloves—they had no idea, and neither did their teacher, that by the next school year their efforts would eliminate foam lunch trays and replace them with compostable trays. They didn’t know that compostable trays were even available. Check the link and see the path they paved to make it happen.
So there. One example of service learning promoting creativity and entrepreneurship…
But there is something nagging at you…you’re thinking that there is more, right?
I agree. (more…)
Youth Can Extend Themselves at Extended School Day Programs: Community Engagement With Service Learning
“It’s not your father’s Oldsmobile” and “Orange juice, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.” You recognize those taglines from a couple of old ad campaigns, right? Just good old Madison Avenue suggesting that we should think about some old friends in a new way. That is just a little bit like what this post is doing, only I’m not a Madison Avenue ad exec, so I don’t have a snappy tagline. Plus, I know that this is not an entirely new way to think of “an old friend.” But if you come up with a snappy tagline, please, share it. I’ll give you all kinds of credit for it.
Just for breakfast?
More and more extend school day program (before school/after school/during school vacation programs) teachers are using service learning.
Why?
For the same reasons that other school teachers use it—the benefits are many.
The Afterschool Alliance, in partnership with MetLife Foundation, released an issue brief this month that discusses civic engagement and service learning in afterschool programs. The title of the brief is Providing Opportunities for Service Learning for Middle School Students. Even though the title isn’t all that catchy, it is a good one to download and read, especially if you have been looking for ideas and support for service learning outside of the school day. (more…)
Seven Ways Service Learning Helps Students to Master 21st Century Skills while Helping Communities to Meet 21st Century Challenges
You have heard it before…service learning is a powerful strategy for helping students to meet 21st Century Skills while transforming communities. Well, it’s true. But how does service learning do that? Over the next few weeks through this blog we are going to explore that a bit. I hope that you will use the comment space to share your own thoughts and examples.
The title above says “Seven Ways Service Learning Helps Students etc…” So that’s it…there are seven. Well, there maybe more, maybe less. In KIDS as Planners: A Guide to Strengthening Students, Schools, and Communities through Service-Learning we identify seven. So let’s start with the idea that there are seven and go on from there. (more…)
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