The Center for Civic Engagement
Service Learning
Service-learning means a method under which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service that:
* is conducted in and meets the needs of a community
* is coordinated with an institution of higher education, and with a community partner
* helps foster civic responsibility
* is integrated into and enhances the academic coursework of the students enrolled
* includes structured time for students to reflect on the service experience.
(Adapted for Ivy Tech Community College from the American Association for Higher Education (AAHE): Series on Service-Learning in the Disciplines and the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993).
Resources:
Definition of service-learning with a longer explanation:
Download the 2012 Ivy Tech-Bloomington Service-Learning Brochure
Some examples of service-learning classes at Ivy Tech - Bloomington include:
Accounting 201
Amanda Dawney, ACCT 101 student, found the information practical and informative. “Everyone will encounter a situation in their future where this type of financial know-how will be helpful,” she said.
I wish I had known these things when I was younger,” student Ben Kistner noted. “It would have saved me a lot of trouble.”
The ACCT 101 service learning class is taught by Steve Englert, Assistant Professor of Accounting. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Stepping Stones. “The teens at Stepping Stones are overcoming many challenges in their lives. This financial information can be critical to their future success,” he says.
Sculpture I and II
In total, 22 brains measuring 5 feet long, 5 feet high, and 4 feet wide were distributed across Bloomington to artists based on their proposals. This community-wide project promoted awareness of brain health.
The sculpture classes designed their brain based on the different areas of the brain and their functions. They created the base of the musical notes, mazes, planets, math, and landscape with foam, paper machete, pie plates, caps, foam core, and twelve tubes of painters caulk.
It has a life of its own. It really lives and breathes,” says student Marsha Plush an associate of fine arts student and the painter of the musical part of the brain.
All 22 brains were displayed around Bloomington for several months before going up for auction. The Ivy Tech brain was displayed at Centerstone, a community mental health agency.
Chemistry 105 and 106
A local agency that runs a summer program for children with disabilities was looking for educational projects for their students. The students at the camp varied widely by age and ability, so a challenge was presented to create projects that were interesting, safe, and challenging, without being too difficult. The Chemistry II class brainstormed and wrote experiments for the summer program, and then passed them to the Chemistry I class to test. Dr. Steve Arnold, Associate Professor and Program Chair for Life/Physical Science taught both chemistry classes.
Radiation Cohort
Every year, the students in the Radiation Therapy program set up a booth at the “ADVENTURES IN MEDICINE: A Real Life Science Festival” held at WonderLab Museum of Science, Health, and Technology in Bloomington. The primary goal of the festival is to interest 5th-12th grade students in healthcare professions. Secondary goals include reaching out to disadvantaged students who may not have role models, and delivering a healthy lifestyle message. The Radiation Therapy students demonstrate thermoplastic material which is used to hold patients still during treatment. Students also discuss why they chose their field of study and what the program is like. “This is a great event to participate in. It allows us to introduce the field of radiation therapy along with all the other health careers represented at the event.” Says Larry Swafford, Dean of Health Sciences.
