PBL and Service-Learning

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Permalink Reply by Sue Boudreau on May 14, 2010 at 3:18pm

I think that service is another way of saying 'get outside yourself'. It's part of finding meaning, something I think most young people (and old) are trying hard to find. So I think it's absolutely necessary for learning on a need-to-know basis.

There are, I guess, several kinds of projects in science class rooms: Making something from a 'recipe' (ex. Build this rocket from a kit). Meeting a fun but useless engineering challenge that applies some science principals (ex. Make the tallest tower from spaghetti). Doing something useful that applies science principals (ex. Use science concepts and methods to improve in a sport of your choice, the 'Grow Food' project) and finally, doing something useful for others that applies science principals and methods. The Take Action project is what we are doing with that. The level of engagement can be very high in most of these (although I personally dislike spending time on 'cute' projects and recipe stuff). It depends greatly on the teacher's sustained enthusiasm and ability to keep students moving along.

Advertizing and our culture in general is very 'me' focused, much teaching is student centered. So the balance of getting students outside of themselves is desperately needed AND I think, often leads to a greater engagement with the world, the problems of the world without being overwhelmed.

I'm going out on a limb here but I think it's vitally important that we include service learning across the curriculum if we want to have a civil, compassionate and liveable world in the coming decades. "Service" sounds so domestic and dull. It's so NOT. I encourage all of us, me included, to find ways to link our content and projects to doing something real and needed. Looking forward to hearing the ways you have done that, or are thinking of trying.

Sue