Trying something new

For as long as I've been teaching, I've required a project of some sort in my classes. I have had students doing portfolios, poster presentations, and group presentations for a few years now, but this semester, I decided to add the option of a service learning project in my Intro to Psych class.

It's one of the next big things in higher ed...along with the idea of lifelong learning, active learning, and distance learning. I typically am skeptical of those damn buzzword movements, but, decided to give my students a chance at something new this time around.

So...each student in my Intro class had the option of doing a portfolio (basically, three short papers with up to three graded rewrite chances) or the SLP. The SLP requires 24 hours of service over the course of the semester, with written reflections due after every 6 hours. I have about a 50/50 split in the class, and, was finding a bit of hesitation with the people doing the SLP actually getting out and doing the work.

So, right before Spring Break, I reminded the students that were doing the SLP about their obligations, and I finally received the first reflections last week.

And I just finished reading them.

Three students just aren't getting it. One decided to do all of her service during Spring Break. I'll be speaking with her about that. Another did two hours and quit where she was at because she "couldn't connect with the people." (I also heard through the gradevine that it caused her to be separated from her boyfriend who was doing his own SLP and having MUCH more fun.) Another student felt that I had no right to infringe upon her free time like that. I'll be talking with her, too.

But...I also have three students who get it! Reading their reflections was extremely interesting, especially because I can see that even after just a few hours of work, they understand the impact they're having -- and -- they realize they are being effected as well!

The remainder...well...they're somewhere in the middle. And, I think at least one might be falsified. I'm going to call the place he's been working at to see if he has actually showed up.

All in all...I do believe I'll be doing this again!