September 1996 New Booklet Series Starts with Service Learning
Students can apply their academic skills to community-based projects that enhance both community and classroom. The practice is called service learning, and interest is growing around the region. In response to that interest, the Northwest Laboratory has published Service Learning in the Northwest, the first installment of a new quarterly series of informational booklets customized to regional needs.The "By Request" series earns its name from the source of its subject matter: the Laboratory's clients. As requests for information on current educational issues come in, Laboratory staff keep a tally of topics. An issue that generates abundant questions eventually will become the focus of a booklet. Each booklet will contain an explanation of the topic's relevance, a sampling of how Northwest schools are dealing with the issue, suggestions for adapting these ideas to schools, selected references, and contact information.
"One objective of the series is to foster a sense of community and connection among educators," says Jennifer Fager, who is developing and writing the series. "Another is that they will increase awareness of current education-related themes and concerns. The papers will give practitioners a glimpse of how fellow educators are addressing issues, overcoming obstacles, and celebrating success in specific areas."
The first booklet offers brief descriptions of eight Northwest service learning projects-one in Alaska, two each in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon, and one in Washington. The Alaska program, for example, pairs students with senior citizens for an oral history project. One of the Montana projects trains students to create and maintain trails along the Yellowstone River. For an Oregon project, students help local businesses create and sustain recycling programs.
The booklet offers a list of tips for implementing service learning programs, along with safety guidelines.
"Ultimately," says Fager, "the series' goal is to give educators current, reliable, and, most importantly, useful information on topics that are important to them."
Watch for the announcement of the second booklet, which will be on tutoring programs: peer tutoring, cross-age tutoring, and parent/adult volunteer tutoring.
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