Introduction to Service-Learning and Civic Engagement As we begin this journey together over the next eight weeks, it is imperative to understand the key concepts incorporated within the course, as well as the overall purpose of taking the course. As President John F. Kennedy has been quoted, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Service-learning versus volunteering: Aren’t they one and the same?  The correct answer is “no” as there are differences.   Volunteering allows for activities which place the emphasis on the recipient.  (Providing meals at the local homeless shelter places the emphasis on the recipient being fed for that particular meal.) Service-learning activities differ from volunteering in the INTENT involved.  This intent with service-learning utilizes intellectual capacities which in turn address problems within the community. (There is a growing number of homeless individuals in the community – what activities can be performed to address this problem?) Following this example, we can see that service learning allows us to become an educated community member and problem-solver through serving and collaboratively reflecting on the meaning and purpose of the activities put into that service.  The entire purpose of service-learning is therefore learning to grow in skills and knowledge because these assets are being brought to real-world problems. As we evaluate these skills, we need to have the understanding of civic capacity.  This is knowing how to APPLY our knowledge and skills to the community challenges we are analyzing.  This capacity is developed when we are able to look deeper at the connection between academic knowledge and experience. Putting each of these concepts together, service-learning, therefore impacts our community positively in order to address societal and political challenges, and generate the positive changes necessary for both individuals and within the system we are looking to change.Preview of Your Final Project Over the next few weeks we will be learning about service learning and investigating a community organization.  You will begin to put this information together to evaluate the role of the community organization that you have chosen.  You will support your ideas with the literature resources that you have found.  You have three options in how you can present your final project: As a Paper Your paper should be creative and interesting, and demonstrate what you have learned.  It should be a minimum of 5-7 pages in length and you will use APA style formatting with a title page and reference section.  You should use Times New Roman, 12pt. font, double-space your lines, and set your page up with one inch margins (See the APA Template included in the Course Resources folder) As a Presentation Like the paper option, your presentation should be creative, interesting, and demonstrate what you have learned throughout the project. Your presentation should be 8 to 10 .

1. Introduction to Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
As we begin this journey together over the next eight weeks, it
is imperative to understand the key concepts incorporated
within the course, as well as the overall purpose of taking the
course. As President John F. Kennedy has been quoted, “Ask
not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for
your country.”
Service-learning versus volunteering: Aren’t they one and the
same? The correct answer is “no” as there are differences.
Volunteering allows for activities which place the emphasis on
the recipient. (Providing meals at the local homeless shelter
places the emphasis on the recipient being fed for that particular
meal.) Service-learning activities differ from volunteering in
the INTENT involved. This intent with service-learning utilizes
intellectual capacities which in turn address problems within the
community. (There is a growing number of homeless individuals
in the community – what activities can be performed to address
this problem?)
Following this example, we can see that service learning allows
us to become an educated community member and problem-
solver through serving and collaboratively reflecting on the
meaning and purpose of the activities put into that service. The
entire purpose of service-learning is therefore learning to grow
in skills and knowledge because these assets are being brought
to real-world problems.
As we evaluate these skills, we need to have the understanding
of civic capacity. This is knowing how to APPLY our
knowledge and skills to the community challenges we are
analyzing. This capacity is developed when we are able to look
deeper at the connection between academic knowledge and
experience.
Putting each of these concepts together, service-learning,
therefore impacts our community positively in order to address
societal and political challenges, and generate the positive

2. changes necessary for both individuals and within the system
we are looking to change.Preview of Your Final Project
Over the next few weeks we will be learning about service
learning and investigating a community organization. You will
begin to put this information together to evaluate the role of the
community organization that you have chosen. You will
support your ideas with the literature resources that you have
found.
You have three options in how you can present your final
project:
As a Paper
Your paper should be creative and interesting, and demonstrate
what you have learned. It should be a minimum of 5-7 pages in
length and you will use APA style formatting with a title page
and reference section. You should use Times New Roman,
12pt. font, double-space your lines, and set your page up with
one inch margins (See the APA Template included in the Course
Resources folder)
As a Presentation
Like the paper option, your presentation should be creative,
interesting, and demonstrate what you have learned throughout
the project. Your presentation should be 8 to 10 minutes in
length, include visual elements (graphics, pictures, etc.), be
presented using a program such as PowerPoint or Prezi, and you
should record yourself giving the presentation (consider using
screen capture programs such as JING or Eyejot to record your
voice—be aware, you may need to create more than one file).
As a Speech
As it is in the other two options, your speech should be creative,
interesting, and demonstrate what you have learned throughout
the project. Your speech should be 8 to 10 minutes in length
and include a typed handout.
For All Assignment Types
Your assignment should be well-organized and demonstrate an
orderly flow of information that clearly addresses the subject
chosen. In addition to the above criteria, your final project

3. should include the following elements:
· The Community Organization: Clearly indicate the focus of
the organization and the community needs that the organization.
A brief historical background of the organization should also be
included.
· Discuss any community partnerships that they have. Suggest
additional partnerships that you feel they should have.
· Explore how the cross-cultural challenges and humanitarian
considerations are involved.
· Demonstrate how the organization uses volunteers and the
economic benefits associated with this (not just “free labor”).
· Illustrate any roadblocks that the organization has faced or
potential could face and how they did or might find solutions.
· Describe the organization’s vision for the future.
· Indicate what areas in which you feel the organization could
improve. What challenges (technological, political, economic,
laws and regulations, community-based initiatives, educational,
etc.) will they need to overcome?
· Discuss potential ways you might be able to contribute to the
organization. How could your own interests, talents, and skills
benefit this organization?
Note: You will need to include a minimum of ten (10) sources
to support your project claims. Additionally, make sure the
sources you choose are no more than five (5) years old.
Criteria:
· Title your Project
· Introduction: Begin with the attention-getter, tie in the
background information, and end the introduction with your
thesis.
· Body:
·
. Clearly identify the topic of each section. The topic must be a
statement, not a question, and should begin with your own ideas
and your own words.
. After identifying your topic, use quotations or paraphrase from
your sources to help illustrate the point you are making (be sure

4. to identify the author(s) and source(s)).
. After you have given support, spend a sentence or two
explaining how the example(s) support the section topic.
. A compilation of your research, your literature review, your
methods, (how the data was collected or generated and
analyzed), and your results should be included in the body of
your project.
· Conclusion:
·
. Restate your thesis. This means that you say about the same
thing as you did in your thesis, but you say it differently.
. After stating your thesis, restate the topics from each of your
body sections and emphasize what is important for your
audience/readers to remember.
. End your conclusion with a call to action that illustrates what
your audience/readers should do with the information you
presented.
Please note: You will have the opportunity to revise and perfect
this project, but you should do your best to make each step as
complete as possible so you can receive more relevant and
constructive feedback from your instructor and your peers.
Introduction to Service
-
Learning and Civic
Engagement
As we begin this journey together over the next eight weeks, it
is imperative to
understand the key concepts incorporated within the course, as
well
as the overall
purpose of taking the course. As President John F. Kennedy has
been quoted, “Ask not

5. what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your
country.”
Service
-
learning versus volunteering: Aren’t they one and the same?
The correct
a
nswer is “no” as there are differences.
Volunteering allows for activities which place
the emphasis on the recipient.
(Providing meals at the local homeless shelter places
the emphasis on the recipient being fed for that particular meal.)
Service
-
learni
ng
activities differ from volunteering in the INTENT involved.
This intent with service
-
learning utilizes intellectual capacities which in turn address
problems within the
community. (There is a growing number of homeless individuals
in the community
–
wh
at activities can be performed to address this problem?)
Following this example, we can see that service learning allows
us to become an
educated community member and problem

6. -
solver through serving and
collaboratively
reflecting on the meaning and purpose of the activities put into
that service.
The entire
purpose of service
-
learning is therefore learning to grow in skills and knowledge
because these assets are being brought to real
-
world problems.
As we evaluate these
skills, we need to have the understanding of civic capacity.
This
is knowing how to APPLY our knowledge and skills to the
community challenges we are
analyzing.
This capacity is developed when we are able to look deeper at
the
connection between academi
c knowledge and experience.
Putting each of these concepts together, service
-
learning, therefore impacts our
community positively in order to address societal and political
challenges, and generate
the positive changes necessary for both individuals and wi
thin the system we are

7. looking to change.
Preview of Your Final Project
Over the next few weeks we will be learning about service
learning and investigating a
community organization.
You will begin to put this information together to evaluate the
Introduction to Service-Learning and Civic
Engagement
As we begin this journey together over the next eight weeks, it
is imperative to
understand the key concepts incorporated within the course, as
well as the overall
purpose of taking the course. As President John F. Kennedy has
been quoted, “Ask not
what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your
country.”
Service-learning versus volunteering: Aren’t they one and the
same? The correct
answer is “no” as there are differences. Volunteering allows
for activities which place
the emphasis on the recipient. (Providing meals at the local
homeless shelter places
the emphasis on the recipient being fed for that particular meal.)
Service-learning
activities differ from volunteering in the INTENT involved.
This intent with service-
learning utilizes intellectual capacities which in turn address
problems within the
community. (There is a growing number of homeless individuals
in the community –
what activities can be performed to address this problem?)
Following this example, we can see that service learning allows

8. us to become an
educated community member and problem-solver through
serving and collaboratively
reflecting on the meaning and purpose of the activities put into
that service. The entire
purpose of service-learning is therefore learning to grow in
skills and knowledge
because these assets are being brought to real-world problems.
As we evaluate these skills, we need to have the understanding
of civic capacity. This
is knowing how to APPLY our knowledge and skills to the
community challenges we are
analyzing. This capacity is developed when we are able to look
deeper at the
connection between academic knowledge and experience.
Putting each of these concepts together, service-learning,
therefore impacts our
community positively in order to address societal and political
challenges, and generate
the positive changes necessary for both individuals and within
the system we are
looking to change.
Preview of Your Final Project
Over the next few weeks we will be learning about service
learning and investigating a
community organization. You will begin to put this information
together to evaluate the
W1 Assignment 2 "Reflection Journal"
· Reflection Journal
This week, through our readings and discussion, we have had
the opportunity to get to know each other and the nature of
service-learning and civic engagement. Additionally, we have
begun to explore the following course outcomes:
· read and extract information and ideas from a variety of texts;
· express a well-informed, personal viewpoint and show an

9. understanding of his or her own biases;
· articulate how learning extends beyond the classroom.
In your journal, in approximately 150 words, reflect back on
what you have learned so far through the course readings,
assignment (if you’ve completed it yet), and our discussion.
Consider the following questions to guide your reflection:
· What, if anything, did you find surprising, particularly
challenging, interesting, or just beautiful?
· From what you know about this course so far, what
connections can you make to previous learning experiences, and
how do you think this course will help you as you move forward
in your college and professional life?
· How do the course outcomes for this week apply to your
experience so far?
· What questions do you still need answered?
W1 Assignment 2 "Reflection Journal"
·
Reflection Journal
This week, through our readings and discussion, we have
had the opportunity to get to know each other
and the nature of service
-
learning and civic engagement.
Additionally, we have begun to explore the
following course outcomes:
·
read and extract information and ideas from a variety of texts;

10. ·
express a well
-
inf
ormed, personal viewpoint and show an understanding of his or
her
own biases;
·
articulate how learning extends beyond the classroom.
In your journal, in approximately 150 words, reflect back on
what you have learned so far through the
course readings, assig
nment (if you’ve completed it yet), and our discussion. Consider
the following
questions to guide your reflection:
·
What, if anything, did you find surprising, particularly
challenging, interesting, or just
beautiful?
·
From what you know about this course s
o far, what connections can you make to
previous learning experiences, and how do you think this course
will help you as you
move forward in your college and professional life?

11. ·
How do the course outcomes for this week apply to your
experience so far?
·
What
questions do you still need answered?
W1 Assignment 2 "Reflection Journal"
This week, through our readings and discussion, we have had
the opportunity to get to know each other
and the nature of service-learning and civic engagement.
Additionally, we have begun to explore the
following course outcomes:
texts;
-informed, personal viewpoint and show an
understanding of his or her
own biases;
In your journal, in approximately 150 words, reflect back on
what you have learned so far through the
course readings, assignment (if you’ve completed it yet), and
our discussion. Consider the following
questions to guide your reflection:
challenging, interesting, or just
beautiful?
rom what you know about this course so far, what
connections can you make to
previous learning experiences, and how do you think this course
will help you as you

12. move forward in your college and professional life?
eek apply to your
experience so far?
W1 Assignment 1 "Personal SWOT Analysis"
· Personal SWOT Analysis
Overview:
Through the readings and the lectures this week, we have
discussed the nature of service-learning and the gains that can
often be associated with community involvement. We have
also discussed the meaning of community and the importance of
becoming active in its betterment. While it is valuable to look
at our communities and assess the problems that need to be
addressed and the opportunities to aid in solving those issues, it
is important to start by assessing our own strengths and
weaknesses to identify opportunities to better ourselves.
This week’s assignment is all about you. Unlike the other
assignments in this course, your work in this assignment will be
a private conversation (of sorts) between you and your
instructor. Be as honest as you can in your assessment so you
can use this information to make the most of your education as
you move forward in this class and through your future learning
experiences.
What is a SWOT analysis?
If you are a business student, chances are, you’ve been asked to
create a SWOT analysis on a company or organization in one or
more of your previous courses. For other students, this may be
a new experience. In either case, you should find this a useful
tool.
A SWOT analysis is a tool for evaluating the Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (or SWOT) associated
with something—usually a company, organization, or project,
but can be applied to analyze an idea, an argument, or, as we

13. are doing in this assignment, a person.
We separate the ideas of strengths and weaknesses as internal
factors (personal strengths and weaknesses), from the ideas of
opportunities and threats as external factors (outside
opportunities and threats to learning). These factors are usually
presented in a chart with bullet-points followed by a brief
narrative about each factor.
Internal Factors
Strengths
SWOTAnalysis
Opportunities
External Factors
Weaknesses
Threats
The first step in completing a SWOT analysis is to identify the
specific areas being analyzed. For the purposes of this
assignment, you are asked to analyze the skills you acquired
throughout your general education so far. The categories we
will analyze are defined as:
1. Communication skills;
2. Critical thinking skills;
3. Respect for diversity;
4. Professional, social, and ethical responsibility; and
5. Lifelong learning practices
(see “University Learning Outcomes” as defined in the
Grantham University Catalog).
Assignment Criteria:
Complete a personal SWOT analysis evaluating your
understanding and skills in the five following categories:
1. Communication skills;
2. Critical thinking skills;
3. Respect for diversity;

14. 4. Professional, social, and ethical responsibility; and
5. Lifelong learning practices
Your assignment should include:
1. A SWOT graph with bullet-points defining your strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they relate to the five
university learning objectives.
2. A brief narrative describing each defined trait.
There is no page-length requirement for this assignment,
however; you should make every effort to provide a complete
and accurate personal analysis. Pay close attention to detail,
including grammar, usage, design, and depth. You may want to
take the time to create several drafts before submitting the final
version of this assignment.
W1 Assignment 1 "Personal SWOT Analysis"
·
Personal SWOT Analysis
Overview:
Through the readings and the lectures this week, we have
discussed the nature of service
-
learning and
the gains that can often be associated with community
involvement.
We have also discussed the
meaning of community and the importance of becoming active
in its betterment.

15. While it is valuable to
look at our communities and assess the prob
lems that need to be addressed and the opportunities to
aid in solving those issues, it is important to start by assessing
our own strengths and weaknesses to
identify opportunities to better ourselves.
This week’s assignment is all about you.
Unlike th
e other assignments in this course, your work in this
assignment will be a private conversation (of sorts) between you
and your instructor.
Be as honest as
you can in your assessment so you can use this information to
make the most of your education as yo
u
move forward in this class and through your future learning
experiences.
What is a SWOT analysis?
If you are a business student, chances are, you’ve been asked to
create a SWOT analysis on a company
or organization in one or more of your previous course
s.
For other students, this may be a new
experience.

16. In either case, you should find this a useful tool.
A SWOT analysis is a tool for evaluating the
S
trengths,
W
eaknesses,
O
pportunities, and
T
hreats (or
SWOT) associated with something
—
usually a company
, organization, or project, but can be applied to
analyze an idea, an argument, or, as we are doing in this
assignment, a person.
We separate the ideas of strengths and weaknesses as
internal factors
(personal strengths and
weaknesses), from the ideas of
opportunities and threats as
external factors
(outside opportunities and
threats to learning)
.

17. These factors are usually presented in a chart with bullet
-
points followed by a brief
narrative about each factor.
Internal
Factors
Strengths
SWOT
Analysis
Opportunities
External
Factors
Weaknesses
Threats
The first step in completing a SWOT analysis is to identify the
specific areas being analyzed.
For the
purposes of this assignment, you are asked to analyze the skills
you acquired throughout your general
education so far.

18. The categories we will analyze
are defined as:
1.
Communication skills
;
2.
Critical thinking skills
;
3.
Respect for diversity
;
4.
Professional, social, and ethical responsibility
; and
5.
Lifelong learning practices
(see “University Learning Outcomes” as defined in the
Grantham University Catalog
).
W1 Assignment 1 "Personal SWOT Analysis"
Overview:
Through the readings and the lectures this week, we have
discussed the nature of service-learning and
the gains that can often be associated with community
involvement. We have also discussed the
meaning of community and the importance of becoming active
in its betterment. While it is valuable to
look at our communities and assess the problems that need to be

19. addressed and the opportunities to
aid in solving those issues, it is important to start by assessing
our own strengths and weaknesses to
identify opportunities to better ourselves.
This week’s assignment is all about you. Unlike the other
assignments in this course, your work in this
assignment will be a private conversation (of sorts) between you
and your instructor. Be as honest as
you can in your assessment so you can use this information to
make the most of your education as you
move forward in this class and through your future learning
experiences.
What is a SWOT analysis?
If you are a business student, chances are, you’ve been asked to
create a SWOT analysis on a company
or organization in one or more of your previous courses. For
other students, this may be a new
experience. In either case, you should find this a useful tool.
A SWOT analysis is a tool for evaluating the Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (or
SWOT) associated with something—usually a company,
organization, or project, but can be applied to
analyze an idea, an argument, or, as we are doing in this
assignment, a person.
We separate the ideas of strengths and weaknesses as internal
factors (personal strengths and
weaknesses), from the ideas of opportunities and threats as
external factors (outside opportunities and
threats to learning). These factors are usually presented in a
chart with bullet-points followed by a brief
narrative about each factor.
Internal
Factors
Strengths
SWOT

20. Analysis
Opportunities
External
Factors
Weaknesses Threats
The first step in completing a SWOT analysis is to identify the
specific areas being analyzed. For the
purposes of this assignment, you are asked to analyze the skills
you acquired throughout your general
education so far. The categories we will analyze are defined as:
1. Communication skills;
2. Critical thinking skills;
3. Respect for diversity;
4. Professional, social, and ethical responsibility; and
5. Lifelong learning practices
(see “University Learning Outcomes” as defined in the
Grantham University Catalog).
W1 Discussion "Introduction to Service-Learning"
· Introduction to Service-Learning
In your first post, take a moment to introduce yourself and tell
the class about your personal and educational goals (there is no
minimum word requirement in this forum). In addition, make
comments and/or ask questions that build on the posts already
in the forum. In these discussions, it is okay to say you don’t
know something, to present ideas that aren’t fully developed
yet, or to try something that you are not certain will work. That
is what discussions should be, and that is what we will be doing
throughout this class.
The following topic(s) will demonstrate what the discussion is
about, but feel free to branch off or expand on the topics. In
addition to this discussion, you will be asked to craft a 150
word reflection on what you have learned through this
conversation and post it to the Reflection Journal. The more
active you are in this part of the discussion, the more you will
have to draw from in your reflection, so get involved, be active,

21. help out your classmates when they need it, and, most of all,
enjoy the conversation.
Discussion Topic B
Discuss how Service-Learning and Civic Engagement are
demonstrated in your community by identifying a person(s) or
an organization with which you have had personal experience.
Discussion Topic C
Review the “Preview of Your Final Project” criteria sheet, and
share an organization that you would like to spend the class
researching and writing about. You may want to have a couple
in mind so you keep your options open, but you will want to
make your decision by the week two assignment.
Please respond to the initial question by day 5 and be sure to
post two additional times to peers and/or instructor by day 7. If
you use any source outside of your own thoughts, you should
reference that source. Include solid grammar, punctuation,
sentence structure, and spelling.
W1 Discussion "Introduction to Service
-
Learning"
·
Introduction to Service
-
Learning
In your first post, take a moment to introduce yourself and tell
the class about your personal and
educational goals (there is no minimu
m word requirement in this forum). In addition, make comments
and/or ask questions that build on the posts already in the
forum. In these discussions, it is okay to say
you don’t know something, to present ideas that aren’t fully
developed yet, or to try s

22. omething that you
are not certain will work. That is what discussions should be,
and that is what we will be doing
throughout this class.
The following topic(s) will demonstrate what the discussion is
about, but feel free to branch off or
expand on the top
ics. In addition to this discussion, you will be asked to craft a
150 word reflection on
what you have learned through this conversation and post it to
the Reflection Journal. The more active
you are in this part of the discussion, the more you will have t
o draw from in your reflection, so get
involved, be active, help out your classmates when they need it,
and, most of all, enjoy the
conversation.
Discussion Topic B
Discuss how Service
-
Learning and Civic Engagement are demonstrated in your
community by identifying
a person(s) or an organization with which you have had personal
experience.
Discussion Topic C
Review the
“Preview of Your Final Project” criteria sheet, and share an
organization that you would like
to spend the class researching and writing about. You may want
to have a couple in mind so you keep
your options open, but you will want to make your decision by

23. the week two assignment.
Please respond to the initial question by day 5 and be sure to
post two
additional times to peers and/or instructor by day 7.
If you use any source
outside of your own thoughts, you should reference that source.
Include solid
gra
mmar, punctuation, sentence structure, and spelling.
W1 Discussion "Introduction to Service-Learning"
-Learning
In your first post, take a moment to introduce yourself and tell
the class about your personal and
educational goals (there is no minimum word requirement in
this forum). In addition, make comments
and/or ask questions that build on the posts already in the
forum. In these discussions, it is okay to say
you don’t know something, to present ideas that aren’t fully
developed yet, or to try something that you
are not certain will work. That is what discussions should be,
and that is what we will be doing
throughout this class.
The following topic(s) will demonstrate what the discussion is
about, but feel free to branch off or
expand on the topics. In addition to this discussion, you will be
asked to craft a 150 word reflection on
what you have learned through this conversation and post it to
the Reflection Journal. The more active
you are in this part of the discussion, the more you will have to
draw from in your reflection, so get
involved, be active, help out your classmates when they need it,
and, most of all, enjoy the

24. conversation.
Discussion Topic B
Discuss how Service-Learning and Civic Engagement are
demonstrated in your community by identifying
a person(s) or an organization with which you have had personal
experience.
Discussion Topic C
Review the “Preview of Your Final Project” criteria sheet, and
share an organization that you would like
to spend the class researching and writing about. You may want
to have a couple in mind so you keep
your options open, but you will want to make your decision by
the week two assignment.
Please respond to the initial question by day 5 and be sure to
post two
additional times to peers and/or instructor by day 7. If you use
any source
outside of your own thoughts, you should reference that source.
Include solid
grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and spelling.