| Remember, Service Learners Are Students,
Not Just Volunteers! |
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Supervisors must keep in mind that not only do students
want to help meet important community needs, but they are also using the
experience as the basis for understanding their college course. Students
are receiving academic credit for learning through the service efforts.
Help students think about what the experience means to them, the organizational
context, and overall societal issues and impacts. |
| Plan Ahead |
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Clear, will thought out Service-Learning placement descriptions
outlining tasks, responsibilities and skills needed must be prepared and
given to the student. Are there tasks that you and your staff are now
doing that could be divided up and given to one or more students? Is there
a project that you've always wanted to do but never had the time to organize? |
| Be Aware That Some Students May Not Match Your Needs.
Be Selective |
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Although the college will refer students to your agency,
you will make the final selection. If the student's qualifications and/or
motivations are not in harn1ony with your needs, it is you right and obligation
to tell the student he/she is not qualified. |
| Orient, Orient, Orient; Train, Train, Train; Supervise,
Supervise, Supervise! |
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Students require carefully structured orientation to your
agency, staff and clients to answer such questions as, where do I fit
in? How do I get things done? What do I need to be aware of? What is expected
of me? How do I get information/support if my supervisor is not available?
What do I have to Learn? Students should also be familiarized with your
mission and key community and societal issues facing your agency--the
bigger picture--why you do what you do and how the student can contribute
to this end. |
| Be Realistic With Your Time Commitment Expectations Of
Students. Think Semester! |
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Expect students for only 5-11 weeks at the most. However,
students often elect to continue on a "volunteer" basis on their
own time after the Service-learning assignment is completed. |
| Be An Involved Teacher And Mentor |
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Throughout the assignment, the supervisor should help the
student interpret the experience and the relationship between what the
student is doing, the work of the agency and others. The student-supervisor
relationship is one of the most significant parts of the student's experience
and often determines the success of the placement. The supervisor is truly
a partner in the student's education and should view him/herself as a
co-educator. |
| Say "Thank You." |
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Like everyone, students want to be welcomed and appreciated.
They also need to see how their work is important to your agency's mission.
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| Talk To Us |
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Please keep the college informed of any concerns,
problems, successes, or other pertinent issues related to the placement
or the student. We are here to facilitate the entire process and ensure
that all parties are satisfied-and we can't properly address problems
unless we know of them right away. |
