It is no longer just reading,
writing and arithmetic. According to John Glenn,
chair of the National Commission on Service
Learning, we have a fourth-R. The fourth-R
represents the strong sense of civic responsibility
that students gain through Service Learning
projects. Service Learning can be defined as active
participation in an organized activity in which
students learn something and fulfill a need in the
community. Students who engage in Service Learning
activities increase their knowledge of community
needs, become committed to an ethic of service,
develop a more sophisticated understanding of
politics and morality, and learn how to apply what
they are learning through their curriculum to real
world situations. Studies show that when Service
Learning is explicitly connected to curriculum,
young people make gains on achievement tests,
complete their homework more often, and increase
their grade point averages. Service Learning is
also associated with both increased attendance and
reduced dropout rates. In comparison with peers,
students who engage in Service Learning show less
alienation and exhibit fewer behavior problems. In
addition, studies have shown that students who
engage in Service Learning learn about career and
communication skills, increase awareness of career
possibilities, and develop more positive workplace
attitudes than fellow students.
. Jamie
Royster's Introduction to Construction Technology students built
a Victorian Playhouse that will be donated to Head Start upon
completion. Below are pictures of different stages of the project: The boys
shown above were cutting boards for the framework of the playhouse. Students
above are assembling the walls for the playhouse. Assembling
the basic house. Students
are shown above putting together the porch. Siding
the house. Siding
again. Applying
the shutters. It's
coming together. Back
side of the house. Inside
finishing touches. Finishing
touches. Finished
Playhouse
Jamie Royster-Wagner's
Introduction to Construction Technology students built a set
of toy building blocks, a picnic table & benches, a wall
book rack, a table & four chairs, an art center, and a toy
stove & refrigerator for the new children's room at the
Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Minot. Students proudly show
off their toy building blocks in the photo below. Through this
project, students learned how to use all the tools in the shop. Shown below
are the toy building blocks, wall book rack, and the picnic
table & benches that Jamie Royster's students built for
the children's room. Students also built the table in the far
corner and four chairs for the Safe House.
. Stove
and Refrigerator
Blanny
Nygaard's welding students recently completed a Service Learning
project in which they welded stars for a Christmas display at
Oak Park.
Auto body students used their paint booth to paint the fence panels.
Mary Gross restaurant class gained some hands on experience by operating a restaurant at the Hostfest.
Students
from Blanny Nygaard's and Leverrett Larson's Automotive Technology
classes are shown below performing 15 point inspections to gain
some hands-on experience in servicing automobiles. The Michelin
Man, with help from another student, flagged down motorist willing
to participate in the inspection. Through this experience, students
learned how to operate some special equipment.
On May 19, 2005, Horticulture students did some landscaping at Magic City Campus
Students worked
hard to put the rock in place On October
23, 2002, Horticulture students from Magic City Campus braved
the cold to plant trees at a park adjacent to one of Minot's
bike/walking paths.
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04-30-2008