Service Learning
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service-learning is incorporated into a course through projects that serve the student learning outcomes, community partner goals, and community needs. Projects are designed collaboratively between faculty and community partners, such as non-profit organizations or government agencies and connect course content to community-based projects.
Service learning can be an integral aspect of the university learning experience when integrated into course assignments, student research, practicum settings, and internships. This gives UH West Oʻahu students opportunities to engage in experiential learning in real world contexts and develop civic and community engagement skills, while serving community partner, and societal needs. Service-learning and community engagement link classroom curriculum to ‘āina-based and culturally appropriate education with hands-on experiential learning opportunities. It also connects work-based learning with a focus on career pathways in order to match the needs of community partners and leads to student success.
Benefits for Students and Faculty
For students, service learning is an opportunity to get as much out of your education as possible. Through service learning, abstract ideas and theories become concrete as they are used to make our world a better place. Courses with service learning expectations are grounded in authentic experience and make learning come to life in exciting and fulfilling ways. By participating in service learning students learn leadership skills, develop core values and hone perspectives that will be valuable to an employer or to further one’s education.
For faculty, service learning is an effective method for enhancing and deepening the knowledge and skills engaged with in class. Service learning expands the walls of the classroom by grounding learning within the exploration of invaluable real-life experience. Research has shown that students who participate in focused service learning in a course retain information better and have a deeper understanding of course material. To achieve the most effective results service learning should be deeply integrated into the course expectations and assessments.
Service Learning Course Characteristics and Outcomes
Recommended course characteristics
- Include a minimum of 20 hours of service participation per semester.
- Service projects have clear and specific learning objectives related to course content.
- Instructors work with participants to draw the connections between the service that participants are providing and what they should be learning.
- Students are given organized time during the course to reflect on their service.
- Service learning projects are based in strong partnerships with community groups that include mutually agreed upon goals, roles and responsibilities.
- Learning expectations and service are emphasized in all projects.
Recommended Student Outcomes
Student:
- Demonstrates a heightened awareness of their community and understanding of community needs, problems and resources.
- Describes the quality and quantity of their interactions in their community, to include their attitude about their service experience and benefits gained both for student and community partner based on students service.
- Expresses increased sensitivity to a community with which they are unfamiliar.
- Makes clear connections between course content and their community service.
- Describes career directions they might follow as a result of their service.
- Develops new communication skills needed to work with community.
- Recognizes personal weaknesses and strengths relative to their service.
- Changes previously held beliefs as a result of their work with the community.
- Recognizes community partner as expert and is compelled to provide partner with quality work.
- Identifies changing roles of instructor, peers, and partners in terms of learning and teaching.
Responsibilities
- Students record and verify their service using the appropriate forms.
- Student records (timelog and sign-up forms) are turned in by the faculty to the Community Engagement and Service Learning director at the end of each semester.
- Faculty collect and turn in Assumption of Risk and Release forms to the Community Engagement and Service Learning director.
Service Learning Opportunities
| Organization | Contact | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Atherton YMCA | Cassidy Inamasu cinamasu@ymcahonolulu.org |
Education students provide workshops and academic support for keiki. |
| EarthJustice | Isaac Moriwake imoriwake@earthjustice.org (808) 599-2436 |
“Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer” |
| Ewa Limu Project | Wally Ito wally@kuahawaii.org |
|
| Food + Policy | Kelsey Amos kmt.amos@gmail.com |
Internship Info ($2,000) |
| Hawai‘i International Film Festival | Jen May Pastores jenmay@hiff.org |
|
| Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives | ymanipon@missionhouses.org | History and Museum Studies majors School and Historic house Tour Docents – Assist in conducting innovative and interactive tour programs with students and public. Museum Shop Attendants - Assist the store manager and customers to become more familiar with locally made products and special Craft Fair Annual Event. Education & Library Attendants – Assist our librarians and researchers. Collections and Exhibition Assistants – Assist Collection Manager with cataloging and preparing exhibitions. Administration – Assist with administrative functions in Development, Business of Accounting. |
| HOSA | info@hosa.org (800) 321-HOSA |
Student volunteer for event planning empower Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global health community, through education, collaboration, and experience. |
| Ka Papa Loʻi o Kānewai (UH Mānoa) | kanewai@hawaii.edu | Community weekend 1st Saturday of the month. |
| Kaʻala Farms loʻi | Stone Perez stone@kaalafarm.org |
Community weekend 3rd Saturday. |
| Hoʻōla Hou iā Kalauao | Dani Espiritu hoolahouiakalauao@gmail.com |
Community weekend 3rd Saturday of the month 9:00-12:00. |
| Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi | info@kakoooiwi.org | Community weekend 2nd Saturday of each month at 8:30-12:00. |
| Kalaeloa Heritage Park | info@kalaleloaheritagepark.org | Community weekend 2nd Saturday of each month at 8:30-12:00. |
| Kalaeloa Unit, Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge | info@malamalearningcenter.org 808-305-8287 |
Paid internships available. Weed, clear out invasive species of plants, and/or replant native species. Opae 'Ula shrimp counts. |
| Kokua Hawaii Foundation | Kelly Perry kelly@kokuahawaiifoundation.org |
Community Workday first Saturday of the month. Projects may include but are not limited to: opala pick up, mulching, weeding, trimming, planting and harvesting. |
| Kuhiawaho | Sammie Ai sammie.ai@gmail.com |
Community weekend 1st Saturday of each month. |
| Kupu | (808) 735-1221 info@kupuhawaii.org |
Shared volunteer opportunities with our students to practice land conservation whereby students can also learn more about the health of the community. |
| Loʻi o Punaluʻu (UH Mānoa) | kanewai@hawaii.edu | Community weekend 3rd Saturday. |
| Loko Ea | sayo@lokoea.org | Community weekend 3rd Saturday of each month. |
| Ma‘o Farms | Kaui Sana cheryse@maoorganicfarms.org |
College tuition waiver + monthly stipend available for LCC & UHWO students. |
| Mohala Farms | Mark Hamamoto mark@mohalafarms.org (808) 478-8469 |
Monthly community work days are held on the first Saturday of each month. |
| Native Stories | nohea@nativestories.org | Multiple volunteer positions including: community outreach, digital marketing, Audio Engineering, Story Coordination, Research/Writing. |
| Paepae o Heʻeia fishpond | info@paepaeoheeia.org | Community weekends 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month 8:30-12:00. Volunteer week days 8:00-12:00. |
| Reppun Farm | Charlie Reppun leereppun@gmail.com |
|
| UHWO Hale Kuahuokalā and Student Organic Garden | Tasia Yamamura tasiay@hawaii.edu |
Harvest days Thursday 9:00-11:00. |