By Lauren Kelly
This past Thursday, Mrs. Baldacci (along with Time Warner Cable and the Maine Commission for Community Service) presented five Service Learning Project Awards to Maine Schools and/or community programs, working with children (k-12), focused on STEM activities (science, technology, engineering, math).
As I begin to learn more about Service Learning, I started to think about how it ultimately plays a role in molding, shaping and developing our future volunteer pool. Service Learning combines classroom instruction with community service and a focus on civic responsibility which presents students with opportunities to be involved in activities that address local needs. Those are all important factors that could foster a dedicated and active pool of volunteers. And the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Just take a look at these interesting local (research done here in New England) facts about how students benefit from Service Learning:
• 80% of students reported that they were more sure they wanted to graduate high school and complete a college degree,
• 68% reported that they try harder when in class at school,
• 79% believe they can make a difference in their community,
• 80% reported that they are more likely to vote in national elections when they are adults,
• 71% said they learned that it is important for everyone to be concerned about state and local issues,
• 73% reported that they learned to accept responsibility for their actions, and
• 84% reported that they are more likely to take action on causes they believe in.
cheap software
I really enjoyed attending the ceremony, meeting the winners, and hearing about their Service Learning projects. They are an impressive group and, quite possibly, your future volunteers!
I encourage you to read more about the winners and their Service Learning projects at the link listed here: http://www.maineservicecommission.gov/news/release.php?nID=1379
Lauren Kelly is a Marketing VISTA at the Maine Commission for Community Service and a guest blogger.
*Center for Youth and Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Assessing the Impact of the KIDS Consortium, KIDS Living Democracy, and First Year KIDSCAN Programs: First Year Findings, (Waltham, MA: Brandeis University, December 2005.)
To learn more about Service Learning, visit http://www.servicelearning.org/
To learn more about the STEM Education Coalition, visit www.stemedcoalition.org/
