Cindy--
Last year at Brown, we decided, like you, to engage students in the
community without involving students in projects during orientation.
As part of a larger workshop, the students all participated in walking
tours of several neighborhoods surrounding the campus and across
Providence. During these tours we talked about the historical,
cultural, and economic development of the city, as well as the
background and foci of our partner agencies and programs in the various
neighborhoods. Students asked many questions of us and each other and
were able to make comparisons not only among various parts of
Providence, but also between Providence and their hometowns. The
workshop also provided space for people to discuss personal stories of
service and community, as well as the history and various models of
service in America.
We feel that this model actually provides a better context for many
students, integrating them into this community differently from working
on a one day project. This workshop opens a range of doors for their
own exploration of this community instead of exposing them to only one
agency or issue. It is also less taxing for our community partners,
particularly since our orientation takes place Labor Day weekend.
Good luck working out a plan that will work for you, Cindy. If you (or
anyone else) have questions about this program, please let me know (but
allow some time for a response, I will be out the next two weeks).
My best,
Scott Hummel
>Greetings Everyone!!!
>
>I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!! Our Fall Orientation
>program is looking for ways to do introduce service to our in coming
>students this fall without actually doing a service project (short
>orientation schedule). I thought engaging students in a simulation
>activity or an interactive activity would be the best route. I
thought
>this would be 10 times more interesting than listening to me talk.
The
>purpose of such an activity would be to place emphasis on the value
that
>service learning has within our two institutions and to engage and
>motivate students to reflect upon the value that service has within
>their own lives.
>
>Does anyone have anything that would be of value to me? I am meeting
>with the Dean of Students on July 10th! Any information you could
share
>would be extremely appreciated!!!!!! Please feel free to mail any
>materials to the address below or respond through email.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Cindy Pederson
>Service Learning Coordinator
>College of St. Benedict/St. John's University
>Richarda N22
>St. Joseph, MN 56374
_______________________________
Scott Hummel, Assistant Director
Swearer Center For Public Service
Box 1974, 25 George Street
Providence, RI 02912
(ph) 401/863-3545
(fx) 401/863-3094
(www) http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/