Service-Learning
The Service-Learning Action Project is a mechanism by which students will become involved with the biology class content material in depth and have an opportunity to apply it in a meaningful manner. At the same time students donate their time and talent to an not-for-profit organization. It is a win-win situation for all.
"Service-learning offers the opportunity for today's young people and tomorrow's leaders to learn, while addressing local needs. Hands-on experiences reinforce learning in the classroom, promoting civic responsibility and showing that citizens working together are a powerful source." Colin Powell
We are all consumers of science. The best consumer is an informed consumer. Through the biology course work, the service-learning experience, and research, each student can gain, understand, and apply, useful science-related information.
"Service-learning engages students in education, and helps connect their personal lives and community responsibilities with their own academic achievement." Anne Bryant
Most importantly, students majoring in science and related areas will have an opportunity to participate in the process of science. Experiencing science in real life situations will give future scientists an opportunity to hone in on their skills and career goals, as well as gain valuable knowledge and skills.
"Education is the future of this country. Service-learning helps students learn skills that they will use as learners, as workers, and as citizens." James B. Hunt
In this rapidly advancing technological world, we all have a responsibility to become science literate. Moreover, we have a responsibility, as members of the biosphere, to share our knowledge and skills with other members of nature: humans, animals, plants, microbes, and the environment, in order to promote individual and collective well-being. Conducting Service-Learning is a two way street. The student gains knowledge and experience and, at the same time, provides service to others. It is a form of reciprocal altruism.
"You will find meaning only by sharing in the responsibilities, the dangers, and the passions of your time." Lyndon B. Johnson
We can influence personal and public opinion, and policies with our strong commitment and scientific knowledge base. While we won’t solve all problems, we can at least have a positive influence on some. We can spread good will and information through our actions to make this a better world.
"Be the change
you want to see in this world." Gandhi
The best place to start is to get involved in conducting some vital service for our community. After doing preliminary research on a topic of interest, the actual service-learning experience is conducted at a Miami Dade College partnership agency. Once the service-learning has been conducted, reflection about the project will undoubtedly point to the success of your endeavors and the next set of steps to follow on your own. But whatever the outcome of your Service-Learning Action Project may be, know that you are on the way to improving your life and that of other creatures through your involvement.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has" Margaret Mead
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BSC 2010 Service-Learning Project |
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BSC 2010 Principles of Biology students will conduct a Service-Learning project in a science related area. This experience will allow students to both gain and apply knowledge related to their biology course curriculum. This project will be a vehicle for students to experience the process of science first hand and gain experience in conducting scientific research.
Students will be placed with one of various community Partners of Miami Dade College, as follows: the United States Department of Agriculture Subtropical Horticultural Research Station (USDA-ARS), Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. At the USDA-ARS, the students will have an opportunity to work with a research scientist in one of four areas: chemistry, genetics, hydrology, or entomology. At Fairchild Tropical Gardens, the students will have an opportunity to work with scientists involved in Palm Biology or GIS: Graphic Information Systems. At Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the students will have an opportunity to work in ecological restoration and other areas of field biology.
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Service-Learning Project Portfolio |
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A Service-Learning project portfolio will be compiled by each student to document the service-learning experience. At the conclusion of the project, students will submit the portfolio for grade.
Procedure:
Contact the Miami Dade Community College agency partner and pair up with research scientist.
Determine area of research and type of project to be conducted with the scientist and arrange for a service-learning on-site schedule of at least 10 hours.
Conduct a scientific literature search at the library. Choose three to five articles related to the project research topic. If possible, choose publications authored by the actual partner agency scientists that you are working with. Ms. Glenda Phipps will provide instructional assistance with the research.
Read the articles prior to conducting the service-learning project.
During the on-site project, discuss the publications with the authors. Also discuss any further research that has been or is currently being conducted.
Write a three to five page summary of the research and explain the history, as well as, the current research and developments.
Keep a journal of all activities conducted during the service-learning project.
Keep a time log sheet and get verification of your time and service project activities from a reliable partner agency source.
Complete all paperwork from the Miami Dade College Kendall Campus Center for Community Involvement. Ms. Ossie Hanauer will provide these documents and deadlines for completion.
Complete all assignments from the three Action Project Workshops. See below:
Principles of Biology Service-Learning Action Project Workshops
Purpose:
The Service-Learning Action Project is a mechanism by which students will become involved with the class material in depth and have an opportunity to apply it in a meaningful manner. We are all consumers of science. The best consumer is an informed consumer. Through the course work and research each of us can gain, understand, and apply, useful science-related information. As a science major, there is no better way to learn and comprehend rigorous scientific content than to apply it. In this rapidly advancing technological world, we all have a responsibility to be science literate. Moreover, we have a responsibility, as members of the biosphere, to share our knowledge and skills with other members of nature: humans, animals, plants, microbes, and the environment, in order to promote individual and collective well-being. We can influence personal and public opinion and policies with our strong commitment and knowledge base. While we won't solve all problems, we can at least have a positive influence on some. We can spread good will and information through our actions to make this a better world.
The best place to start is to get involved in conducting some vital service for our community. At the same time you will learn from your project mentors about how scientific research and investigations are conducted in real life situations. After the research and the action have been conducted, reflection about the project will undoubtedly point to the success or failure of your endeavors and the next set of steps to follow on your own. But whatever the outcome of your Action Project may be, know that you are on the way to improving your life and that of other creatures through your involvement.
General Idea:
1. Identify a topic in the Biology text that you are interested in.
2. Identify a problem, related to that topic, which exists in our local community.
3. Identify a community partner that is conducting scientific research related to your topic.
4. Conduct research (literature, agency, etc.) to gather information about the topic and problem.
5. Come up with a possible solution or plan to work on the problem.
6. Take an action and/or conduct a service that will help solve the problem.
7. Reflect upon what you have learned from this process, how it has affected you personally and professionally, how it has impacted others, and what actions need to be taken in the future.
Resources:
3. The Campbell Biology textbook and other related texts
4. CCI Community Partners working in science related areas
5. Libraries
6. Internet
7. Media: Newspapers, TV stations, etc.
8. Community and Government Agencies and Interest Groups
9. Environmental Agencies and Interest Groups
10. Schools, Colleges, Universities, Professors, Researchers, Scholars
11. Community Leaders, Elected Officials
12. Professionals: Lawyers, Doctors, Veterinarians, Scientists, Environmentalists
13. City, State, and U.S. Government Offices and Agencies
14. Non-Profit Organizations
15. Global Organizations: United Nations, World Bank
16. Businesses 9Willing to do "Not for Profit" Science related work
17. Hospitals, Churches
18. Retirement/Children's Homes
19. Hospices
20. Professor del campo: Room 3265-12, 305-237-0956, mdelcamp@mdcc.edu
_____ . _____
Procedure:
1. Choose a topic related to Biology.
2. Identify community needs/problems related to your topic
3. Brainstorm for creative solutions to the needs/problems
4. Verify possibility of conducting community service and or research related to the topic
5. Through the Kendall Campus Center for Community Involvement find a community SERVICE-LEARNING community partner site that is related to your topic and where you will volunteer your time and talent.
6. Conduct a scientific literature search at the library.
a. Choose three to five current scientific articles related to the topic.
b. Try to find at least one article authored by one of the professionals that you will be working with
c. Read the articles, take notes, and think about them.
d. Identify the scientific method as conducted by the researchers: problem, hypothesis, experiment (include: materials, procedures, variables, test group, and control group), data, conclusion, and theory.
7. Write ten-page essay discussing the articles found during the literature search and the Service-Learning experience.
a. Include a summary of the articles found during the literature research
b. Include a summary of the scientific process conducted, as well as the results.
c. Discuss predictions, future goals, and applications of the research topic.
How does this scientific research and its outcome affect you, society, Nature?
d. Include information about career opportunity, and education and
job requirements related to the specific research area.
e. Include your thoughts and reflections on the activities you conducted during the
Service-Learning project and their meaning to you as well as to society and Nature.
8. Conduct the community service. Keep a time log sheet and get VERIFICATION of your time and service project from a reliable source. During the project keep a journal of activities conducted.
9. Complete all paperwork from Action Project Group Workshops and Evaluation Handouts, see checklists of required documents and portfolio below.
10. Reflect on how your knowledge of biology and you community involvement, using that knowledge, are making a difference for you and for a better world.
Checklist of the required documents:
( Student Checklist Service-learning Documents to be turned in for grading)
(Use the check list below)
1. _______Application (page 7) and Placement Confirmation (page 8)
date due by:______________.
2. ________Time Sheet (page 9) and Agency Evaluation (page 10)
date due by:_____________.
3. ________Student Satisfaction Questionnaire (pages 11 & 12)
date due by:_____________.
Action Project Portfolio:
Assemble all of the following documents in a binder to be turned in for a grade. Due on _____________(M-W-F) or ________________(T-R). (Use the check list below)
Please contact me for assistance if needed.
1. ______Ten-page Essay
2. _______Workshop I Handout (Identification of topic and problem, plus
Research)
3. _______Three to five articles from current scientific periodicals (include Xerox
copy)
4. _______Workshop II Handout (Service-Learning Project)
5. _______Proof of community involvement (letters of reference, tickets,
photographs , etc....)
6. _______Workshop III Handout (Reflection)
7. _______Self/Group Evaluation Handout
_____ . _____
Action Project
Group Workshop I
Name:_____________________________________ Date:_________________
Class Time and Days:___________________
Names of other group members:__________________________________________
______________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Biology Topic:__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Related to topic: __________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Research sources: List three to five scientific journals/ references and or three to five web references related to the biology topic/community problem. For each reference write a summary. Use another paper if necessary.
______________ __________ ____________________________ ______________
Author Date Article Title Journal
Summary:______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Periodical II:
______________ __________ ____________________________ ______________
Author Date Article Title Journal
Summary: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________ __________ ____________________________ ______________
Author Date Article Title Journal
Summary: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________ ____________________________ ________________________
Author Web Site Title Web Site Address
Summary: _____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________ ____________________________ ________________________
Author Web Site Title Web Site Address
Summary: __________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________ ____________________________ ________________________
Author Web Site Title Web Site Address
Summary:____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Contacts related to Service-Learning Project: Community Partner Agencies.
See list on the Service-Learning handout.
List persons/organizations that you have contacted in relation to the biology topic and the community/environment service that you plan to conduct.
1.___________________ _______________________ ________________________
Name of Organization Contact Person Contact #
2.___________________ _______________________ ________________________
Name of Organization Contact Person Contact #
3.___________________ _______________________ ________________________
Name of Organization Contact Person Contact #
_____ . _____
Action Project
Group Workshop II
Name:_____________________________________ Date:_________________
Class Time and Days:___________________
Names of group members: ___________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Community/Environment Service-Learning Action:
Identify the recipients of your service/action:
_______________________________________________________________________
Explain the value of this service/action for the community/environment:
_______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Journal and Record of Service Hours:
(Use extra paper if needed for more entries)
__________ __________ ________________________________________________
__________ __________ ________________________________________________
__________ __________ ________________________________________________
__________ __________ ________________________________________________
__________ __________ ________________________________________________
Proof of Service/Action:
List contact persons, documents, and/or any resources that will verify that you conducted community/environment service (pictures, tickets, letters, evaluations, etc. These documents are to be attached):
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
Midpoint Evaluation: How is the Service-Learning project working out so far? Identify and explain the pros and cons:_______________________________________________________________________
_____ . _____
Action Project
Name:_____________________________________ Date:_________________
Class Time and Days:___________________
What knowledge did you gain through this assignment? (Biology, Community, Environment)
How did you apply your knowledge?
How did your project affect the recipients of your service/action?
How did your project affect you?
Was this a worthwhile experience? Explain.
What were your favorite and least favorite parts of this assignment? Explain.
Will you continue to volunteer your services and expertise? Why or why not?
How do you rate your performance on this assignment? Explain why.
IF applicable, how would you rate the performance of your group members on this assignment? Explain per individual.
Explain what you will always remember about this assignment.
_____ . _____
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Important Links: |
Center for Community Involvement CCI
http://www.mdc.edu/cci/default.asp
Ossie Hanauer, Director Kendall Campus CCI
USDA-ARS
http://www.ars-grin.gov/ars/SoAtlantic/Miami/homeshrs.html
Fairchild Tropical Gardens
http://www.fairchildgarden.org/
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/default.asp
Glenda Phipps, Librarian Miami Dade College
