Lessons Learned in
Service-Learning
Experiences in Barry University’s
Theology Courses
What is Service-Learning?
 A teaching and learning




strategy
Meaningful service +
coursework + critical
reflection
Enrich the learning
experience
Foster civic responsibility
Strengthen community
Service-Learning Methods:
Learning Communities
 Learning Community 1: Individual Choice
 Diverse choice of community partnerships
 Generic reflection activities
 Broad array of experiences to share
 Learning Community 2: Project
 One community partner
 Deliverable: survey, art project, marketing material, etc.
 Deeper understanding and relationship with partner
 Learning Community 3: Theme
 Short list of partners centered around a theme
 Different approaches to the theme
 Classroom materials, integration, discussion
Service-Learning Methods:
Classroom Integration
 Orientation Day – invite community partner representatives
to the classroom
 Materials – documentaries, articles, chapters or whole books
 Reflections –
 Discussion: ABC (Affect, Behavior, Cognition)
 Writing Assignments: final paper or series of reflection papers
 Social Analysis – deep and broad understanding of issues
 Journals – documenting student responses / reactions
 Presentations: group or individual on connections between
service and course content
 Community partners have been invited in the past
What does it look like?
Students completed
10 hours across the
opportunities
provided per course
and had to complete a
final paper integrating
their experiences
with classroom
material.
Courses integrated
additional material
relevant to each
theme, including: a
supplementary book,
research and scholarly
articles, and
documentaries.
In class orientation
and reflections were
also conducted.
Theme:Gang
Violence
Partnership
Opportunities:
- Walking 1 Stop
- Juvenile
Detention
Mentoring
- School-to-Prison
Reading Program
Theme:
Immigration
Partnership
Partnership
Opportunities:
Opportunities:
- Human
- Coalition of
Trafficking Hotel
Immokalee
Outreach
Workers
- LGBTQ Safe
- Citizenship
Space
Clinics
Accompaniment - Immigration
Detention
Center Visitation
Theme: Sexuality
Hurdles to Overcome
 Timing
 Student and community partner schedules
 Opportunities available during evenings, days, and weekends
 Flexible community partner schedules
 Transportation
 Separate lists of opportunities with and without transportation
provided
 Coordination with other campus offices (CCSI, CSI)
 Apathy
 Service as another “text” for the course
 Service that is interesting, unique, challenging
 Planning
 Opportunities, logistics, and assignments should be set-up prior to
the start of the course
Three Lessons Learned
Thematic service-learning in two theology courses at Barry: an
Introductory Theology course and a Sexual Ethics course
 Service Learning = Experiential Learning Lab
 Choose themes that are integrally related to subject matter
 Intro: Gang Violence
 Sexual Ethics: Sex Trafficking and Sexual Orientation
 Take the Experiential Learning Out of the Ordinary
 Choose placement sites that students usually can’t access
 Intro: Walking One-Stops, Juvenile Detention Center, Tutoring
 Sexual Ethics: South Beach and Motel Outreach, Pridelines Center
 Don’t Outsource Service-Learning
 Continue to engage personally or professionally in themes/sites