Re: A thought for the cold winter nights - FINALE

Tony,
I, for one, do wish we discussed issues more often on the list. I think
that colleges and univeresities do offer opportunities (golden
ones---reserved often for the well-heeled) for sustained and focused
exploration of knowledge...but this must be for some point...for the
further enrichment (not only in the usual capitalistic sense!) of our
understanding of world--which does include the human element. That human
element makes for all the intrigue, all that is so hard to explain with
only an accumulation of facts. Real knowledge must make use of facts,
findings, doubts about those findings. In service learning, could we be
accused of jumping into the deep end without learning basic methods for
floating, for swimming? Therein lies our caution. I think the learning
part of service learning is hard to manage in our little tiny semester
sized courses with projects hinged into those 14 week frames
which flout the life-long frames of the communities in which we
serve. Getting students to
stay involved for sustained periods of time in a single service site has
been my goal, acheived by some few only.

Reactions to postings of "thought provoking content" do have a range on
any list. We  all use the lists for many purposes...today I have the time
for the refelction...other days, I'm a speed reader. Glad your comment
came through on one of my reflective days.

For those of you who like to reflect at length on one topic I suggest you
join us in person at Georgetown University June 8-11,2000 for the
Invisible
College's 6th National Gathering on Service Learning in which we have one
day of informative and interactive workshops and site visits followed by
sustained conversations in the Learning Circle format that lasts for 2
days. Fliers to follow! Spaces limited.

--patricia

Patricia E. O'Connor, Chair, Invisible College
Assoc. Prof. English
312 New North
Georgetown University
                20057
202 687 7622 (phone)
202 687 5445 (FAX)

oconnorp@gusun.georgetown.edu