I have high expectations for my students. I expect them to show up for class. I expect them to study for their exams. I expect them to participate in class discussions. I expect them to be on time. I expect them to learn. However, is that expectation too high? I can do my part: lecture, provide assessments to see if they are growing, have them write, etc. Maybe they are memorizing concepts and will forget everything once they leave the class. I can't force them to learn. They have the power to accept what they need in the class, and no matter what I tell them, the choice is still theirs.
Is this the same for service learning? Yes. I can require them to go to a nonprofit and provide a service, hoping they will learn from the experience. Do I expect them to learn? This is a trick question! I "hope" they learn several things. I hope they learn key concepts related to my discipline which is communication. I hope they learn from giving their time and skills to others; that they learn empathy, compassion, and consideration. However, I don't expect this will always occur within my students. There's no doubt I hope my students become more civic minded, thinking about others when they go about their lives, but they are humans. We all have different expectations and goals. It would be unfair to force my own upon them. It can be frustrating at times when I think the student isn't putting in the time and energy into a service learning project. I feel they are letting themselves and the organization down. On a positive note, they are fulfilling the assignment and will probably remember the activity. However, I didn't know if this experience will have a later effect on them. So I continue incorporating service learning into the classroom. I know that it does positively affect some students, and if I can reach a few, then I've done my job.
Is this the same for service learning? Yes. I can require them to go to a nonprofit and provide a service, hoping they will learn from the experience. Do I expect them to learn? This is a trick question! I "hope" they learn several things. I hope they learn key concepts related to my discipline which is communication. I hope they learn from giving their time and skills to others; that they learn empathy, compassion, and consideration. However, I don't expect this will always occur within my students. There's no doubt I hope my students become more civic minded, thinking about others when they go about their lives, but they are humans. We all have different expectations and goals. It would be unfair to force my own upon them. It can be frustrating at times when I think the student isn't putting in the time and energy into a service learning project. I feel they are letting themselves and the organization down. On a positive note, they are fulfilling the assignment and will probably remember the activity. However, I didn't know if this experience will have a later effect on them. So I continue incorporating service learning into the classroom. I know that it does positively affect some students, and if I can reach a few, then I've done my job.