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 .