Leading, teaching and learning
Creating Flexible Frameworks for Service Learning By John Haakon Gould
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ervice learning. We can all agree on Common language can be a powerful the range of benefits it provides to tool to encourage a community-wide students. A deeper understanding of understanding of the experiential learning course content. A realization of what is process. meant by reciprocity and power dynamics Whether you’re just getting started in community partnerships. Opportunities on this journey, or trying to refine your to explore and develop interests in a school’s approach, l invite you to catch a meaningful way. The list goes on. Still, glimpse of the process here at Shanghai we may also recognize that, practically Community International School (SCIS). speaking, it can be difficult Balance to get started. Or you While we may strive may simply be wondering: for authenticity in How can we do it better? This adaptable our service learning One approach the start that schools can take scaffolding can programs, may require something is to create flexible more foundational: an frameworks for service. be invaluable institutional inventory. This adaptable scaffolding can be invaluable for all for all involved. Schools are a system of interconnected smaller involved. For teachers For teachers and bodies that must balance and coordinators, these a range of priorities. can be empowering, coordinators, A rigorous curriculum rather than a burden on expands students’ thinking. planning or a series of these can be Pastoral programming tick boxes. Furthermore, cares deeply for their one can also easily empowering. social-emotional wellembed best practices being. Extracurricular for teaching and learning opportunities create an such as coaching, universal exhilarating atmosphere design for learning to apply knowledge and skills. We should (UDL), international mindedness, and not only be mindful of these, but also more. These flexible frameworks can realize that service learning calls for ensure that community partnerships promoting student agency and a school are strengthened in an equitable culture with empathy at its core. way. They can invite parents into the This brings forth the question: how learning process. For students, they can can we leverage these to inform and be viewed as much-needed support optimize our whole-school approach to and an energizing collective avenue service learning? through which to pursue service.
30 | International School | Spring 2022
