University of Utah
"COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN ACTION"
Social Work SL363-1
Fall Quarter
Irene Fisher
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
This course is approved for social science liberal education distribution credit and is also a recognized service-learning class for the ServiceLearning Scholars Program. Students in the course spend three hours of volunteer service in the community each week and the learning from that experience becomes part of the "text" of the class,
This course is designed to help students come to a personal understanding of community service and leadership through learning based on volunteer service experience, readings, group discussion and interaction, and critical reflection.
The pedagogy of this course is built on the action-reflection
concepts of John Dewey, David Kolb
and others who recognize the importance of individual action and
involvement, with subsequent
reflection and analysis, to build personal understanding of the
subject.
The course builds on the premise that individual citizens have both
an opportunity and a
responsibility to be involved in the life of the community and in
addressing community problems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
I. To introduce students to the scope of social and environmental problems which currently exist in the Salt Lake area,
2. To build an understanding of the importance of the individual in the community through the lives of individuals who have impacted significant community problems and through personal actions.
3. To challenge students to test their values and beliefs about the individuals relationship with the community through community service and reflection, readings, guest presentations, and group action and discussion.
4. To explore the connections between personal values, society's values, our actual practices, and the role of the individual in solving community problems.
5. To provide students with a basic understanding of varied approaches to address a recognized community need.
CLASS MATERIALS:
Colby, Anne, & Damon, Wm. (1992). _Some Do Care: Contemporary Lives of Moral Commitment_. New York: MacMillan, Inc.
Coles, Robert. (1993). _The Call of Service: A Witness to Idealism_. Boston New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Other readings from class hand-outs and library reserve:
Bellah, R,N, (1985). _Habits of the Heart_, New York: Harper and Row, (Chpt.6)
Peck, Scott, (1987) _The Different Drum: Community-Making and Peace_. New York: Simon and Schuster. (Chapters 2,3,4)
CLASS OUTLINE:
Section A: GETTING STARTED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
September 28
Topic: Overview of the course; discussion Of Service-Learning
Format: Presentation and group discussion
Assign.:
October 3
Topics: Getting the most from community service
Learning from experience - journals, reflection, group process Format: Presentation and class discussion Assign.: Read Coles, Chapter 5,
Read three articles (to be distributed in class):
"Journals: Diaries for Growth" and
"Tools for Journals and Debriefing" from
Combining Service and Learning.
"Think About It: Taking Time Out for Reflection"
From Campus Outreach Opportunity League (COOL) newsletter
October 5
Topic: Selecting a community service opportunity
Format: Guest presentations, class discussion, group formation
Assign,: Read Coles, Introduction, Chapters 1 and 2. Each student
will perform three hours per week of community service for eight weeks,
beginning Oct. 12,
Section B: "INTO THE STREETS:" COMMUNITY NEEDS & PROBLEMS
Note: This segment of the class is spread throughout
the quarter, and includes five class service projects
and issue exploration related to the projects. See Oct. 6,
Nov. 9, 16, 28, Dec. 7.
October 10
Topic: Youth Violence in the Salt Lake area
Format: Hands-on class service project in the community
Assign: Read class hand-outs
Section C: LEARNING FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
October 12
Topic: A look at people who have made a difference
Format: Class discussion
Assign: Colby, Chapters 3, 5, and 6.
Begin service assignments, see Oct. 3.
One page statement of volunteer service plan due
* name of agency
* contact person, phone, mailing address, signature
* job description and planned hours
* 1 or more personal learning goal
October 17
Topic: A look at people who have made a difference
Format: Video presentation and class discussion
Assign.: Colby, Chapters 8 and 9.
October 19
Topic: Conversations with people who have made a difference
Format: Guest panel
Assign.: Class hand-outs
October 24
Topic: Perspectives on Leadership: Summary Ideas
Format: Class discussion and SHORT ESSAY EXAM
Assign: Read class handouts; hand in journal for comments
Section D: WORKING IN GROUPS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD
October 26
Topic: Working together effectively in your own group
Format: Guest presenter on group processes; Team building exercise;
development of group rules
Assign.:
October 31
Topic: Ways people work together in community service
Format: Class time for group meetings
Assign.: Read Coles, Chapter 3.
November 2
Topic: Ways people work together in community service
Format: Class time for group meetings
Assign: Read Coles, Chapter 4,
November 7
Topic: Group introductory reports
Format: See group assignment page
Assign:
Section E: THE NATURE OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES
November 9
Topic: "Into the Streets" Service project 12
Format: Group service project planned by group
Assign: Handouts from the presenting group
November 14
Topic: "Community" As An Ideal
Format: Class discussion and exercises
Assign: Peck, Chpts. 2,3,4, (On reserve in Marriott Library)
November 16
Topic: "Into the Streets" Service project 13
Format: Group service project planned by group _
Assign: Handouts from the presenting group
Exchange journals with group member for comments
November 21
Topic: Decision-making in a "real" community setting
Format: Class role-play exercise and discussion
Assign.:
November 28
Topic: "Into the Streets" Service project #4
Format: Group service project planned by Group ____
Assign.: Handouts from the presenting group
November 30 Thanksgiving holiday, no class.
December 5
Topic: Individualism & Commitment: What Does It Mean To Me?
Format: Class discussion
Assign.: Bellah, Habits of the Heart, Chpt. 6.
Coles, Interlude, p. 233-253 & Chapter S.
Exchange journals with group members for comment
December 7
Topic: "Into the Streets" Service project 15
Format: Group service project planned by group
Assign,: Handouts from the presenting group
December 12
Topic: Final group reports & celebration of service
Format: see group assignment page
Assign,: Group papers and individual journals due
Course Expectations:
Grading:
Each student will be graded in the following manner:
Class participation 20% Measured by presence and contribution to class discussions, including demonstrated ability to synthesize learning from experience, reading, presentations, and class discussions.
Personal service experience 30% Documented and analyzed in a personal journal, with a final statement of learning outcomes.
Two short essay exams (10% each) 20%
Group process and project 30%
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 15:17:09 MST
From: Renee Buchanan <RBUCHAN@ssb1.saff.utah.edu>