A few weeks ago I posted a request from one of my students, Matthew Lungren, for students' stories about their service experiences. Thank you! Matt has received several stories and several promises of stories. He will be working on this project with an English professor who has experience in publishing. He also has an interested publisher. Matt's e-mail address has changed. Please pass this change on to any students who might be interested, or who have had trouble contacting him in the last couple of weeks. Thanks, again.
Matt's new e-mail: Matthew.Lungren@asu.edu
Nancy Crocker
Service Learning Program
Arizona State University
-----Original Message-----
From: Joann Jelly [SMTP:joannjelly@earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 7:55 AM
To: SERVICE LEARNING NETWORK
Cc: SERVICE LEARNING NETWORK
Subject: Re: thoughts for the c w n's, a not quite FINALE
Tony graced us with a classic quote which highlights the value of
experiential service learning. We can challenge and tweak students' interest
in community and the concepts which underly service; however, physically
getting out and being mentally and emotionally involved with their
internships is the most effective pedagogy in touching their hearts and
souls. I know my own students have been amazed at their experience in ways a
book can only hint.
Obviously, I support the kind of comments Tony shared and am grateful (even
if accidental) they came just prior to Thanksgiving.
Joann Jelly
Patricia E. O'Connor wrote:
> 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