GoToServiceLearning … a BIG BOOST for my Workshops!

How has GoToServiceLearning been helpful to get the word out about high quality service learning? As a frequent presenter on the topic, I always seek new ways to assist teachers, administrators, and other educators understand the construct and possibilities that emerge when implementing service learning and to see authentic curricular connections. One of the best ways: reading about the experiences of their peers in the kind of detail that simply makes sense. Emphasis on simply. If a teacher can read an example and respond with, “I could do that,” or “That gives me an idea I could do,” well that’s a win in my book!

In mid-January I presented a full day workshop for Service Learning Texas with 72 of their grantees form across the state. The purpose was to really emphasize legitimate, intentional, and impactful curricular connections for K-12 classrooms. The kind that specifically helps students meet and exceed the state standards. Katrina Gonzales, one of Texas’ finest service learning practitioners, had recently submitted the Help Haiti example for the web site. I knew Katrina could not attend the day in Austin to tell her story so instead I went to www.GoToServiceLearning.org and easily printed out her lesson. When I distributed copied you could have heard a pin drop And drop. Seriously, the entire group was absolutely silent as they read through the example.

“Is this helpful?” I asked. And the answer was an overwhelming “Yes,” and this was from novice to highly experienced service learning teachers and coordinators. They described the clarity, and how the sequence made what developed vivid. They had enough information to follow the process, and as professionals, would know how to adapt to a similar or different theme or process in their own class or school.

On Saturday February 6, I led a service learning one-day workshop with teachers K-8 who are part of a year long American History and Service Learning grant for the Finger Lakes Region, hosted through Albion Central Schools, a school district located between Buffalo and Rochester New York.. I had met with the teachers for a day in December and we will meet again in May. This session focused on Curricular Integration and answering their questions to move from ideas to implementation. After a full morning I started the afternoon session by walking the group at their request through the GoToServiceLearning website. With Internet access in our room this was ideal. Again, easy to use and I think by looking at this all together there is even a greater likelihood the teachers will return and use the site. One teacher announced she would be leading her faculty through an introduction to service learning workshop very soon so this gave her good resources to put into her presentation.

As the web site grows with examples using the GoTo template, I am confident more even teachers gain confidence by reading what others have done and what students have learned and accomplished. Having been using a version of this template design since the late 1980s I have observed many teachers realize that thinking through these discreet elements congeals the idea of service learning as academic while also providing a myriad of opportunities for youth to build skills, actualize leadership, and see themselves as contributing participants in society. Keep visiting this site – Go To it! And watch service learning grow!

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A.
CBK Associates
Author of The Complete Guide to Service Learning second edition – available March 2010
cbkaye@aol.com
abcdbooks.org