This document discusses service learning and advocacy in counseling education. It defines service learning as an integrated pedagogical approach that combines academic rigor with community service. Research shows service learning has positive effects on students' academic performance and civic engagement. The document also outlines models for the advocacy process and competencies for counselors, defining advocacy as speaking up or taking action on behalf of clients to challenge barriers and promote equity. Key concepts around problem-based service learning and where advocacy should occur in counseling are presented.
3. Academic Service Learning Myths: Facts: Adding community service or volunteering to a traditional course Logging a set number of community service hours as a course requirement The experience itself leads to learning. An integrated pedagogical approach with academic rigor Experience is a necessary but not sufficient condition of education (students also need reflection, analysis, synthesis) ASL benefits both the student and the community Lingertat-Putnam 2010
6. Fieldguide to Problem Based Service Learning (Gordon, 2003) PBSL: Key concepts: Engages students in working in teams in the solving of real, community-based problems. Students are presented with problems and asked to seek authentic and viable solutions. Clear course learning outcomes Community partner with problem that directly relates to the course learning outcomes Students are presented with this problem & the task that an end work product/presentation for the community partner is expected. Instructor builds student knowledge, skills & abilities (capacity) to ensure successful learning and service. On-going reflection and assessment practices are built in. Lingertat-Putnam 2010
8. National studies of service learning in K-12 public schools in the U.S. find that participation in service learning has positive effects on Lingertat-Putnam 2010
9. Studies of service learning at the college level have found that ASL: (Arman & Scherer, 2002; Baggerly, 2006; Burnett et al., 2004) Lingertat-Putnam 2010
10. Graduate education… “seems to be the next frontier of the service-learning and civic engagement movements” (O’Meara, 2007, p. 2) ASL can help graduate students develop skills and competencies they are learning in classes in real-world contexts, while developing a professional orientation that values community-based research methodologies & social action (Baggerly, 2006; O’Meara, 2007) Lingertat-Putnam 2010
12. Helpful websites: Campus Compact http://www.compact.org/initiatives/service-learning/ Learn & Serve America’s National Clearinghouse: http://www.servicelearning.org/what_is_service-learning/characteristics/index.php NY Capital District Consortium Wiki http://4crsl.pbworks.com/ Lingertat-Putnam 2010
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14. Responding on behalf of clients and empowering clients to work on their own behalf (Dinsmore et al., 2002)
15. Help clients challenge institutional and social barriers that are impediments to academic, career, or personal-social development (Lee, 1998)
16. Focus on reducing barriers to student achievement and working towards equity in education through collaboration (DeVoss & Andrews, 2006)Lingertat-Putnam 2010
17. Where should advocacy happen? (Ratts, DeKruyf, & Chen-Hayes, 2007) Lingertat-Putnam 2010
19. A MODEL OF THE ADVOCACY PROCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS Develop advocacy dispositions. Develop advocacy relationships and advocacy knowledge. Define the advocacy problem. Develop action plans. Implement action plans. Make an evaluation. Celebrate or regroup. Trusty, J. & Brown, D. (2005). Advocacy competencies for professional school counselors. Professional School Counseling, (8)3, 259-265. Lingertat-Putnam 2010
Most of the studies to date have looked at service learning in K-12 schools. Results follow triad from ASCA: academic, pers/soc, career Scales looked at three large and diverse data sets of 6th – 12th grade students’ community service and service-learning experiences, academic success, and SES.
Burnett et al: Af-Am community center; counseling center serving low-income children & families, a nursing home for people unable to care for themselves independently, & a local housing authority that provided housing, economic & educational assistance to low income families. Arman & Scherer: Students reported that “service learning was effective as a method of integrating the theory and practice of school counseling” (Arman & Scherer, 2002, p. 76) and increased their awareness of the realities of the role of school counselors. The researchers also found that graduate students participating in the project desired more class time to process and debrief from their experiences. Baggerly project was the most like PBSL.
Advocacy from the individual level to advocating for the school counseling profession. Can be conceptualized as types of advocacy, and also helping these systems to advocate for themselves