Winding down and thoughts on the class focus

When I read the articles on service learning for the annotated bibliography, I learned so much about the definition of service learning. I thought I knew what it was when the semester started, but after our class discussions, I wasn't so sure so I picked articles that gave varied views and topics on service learning. Many of the articles did mention that service learning has a civic component or "activism" idea to it. Hidi mentioned that we lack the civic participation to make this truly service learning. I don't agree with that view. From some of the articles, I found that a civic agenda is optional. What is more important in service learning, are the two components of service and learning. The student learns something from the project and serves a need even if it is not changing a social issue. Reflection needs to be part of the project usually ongoing throughout the project. One article I read even thought that including a civic angle only promoted a political agenda and should not be a part of higher education learning.

I feel that this class has fulfilled both those components of service learning. Even my family history project had service learning to it. I am helping my family with my writing to preserve our history, I learned a great deal not just about my topic, but about writing the history and how to use the library. I reflected throughout the project about my progress and the processes I used to find information. I didn't change anything within the family, no great social cause to take upon myself.

With the Lake James project, it was similar to that same process. I used the knowledge gained in genealogy research in the first project to help with research in the second project. I feel we are helping Jim and Flaime with their book and they are the community. It is a preservation of history about the lake. It might later fulfill a social cause, we don't know at this point where it could go. Reflection has been a major component of this project too just like our first project. The weekly blogs have been helpful to me to think about my progress with these projects and they have helped me to think about service learning overall. In researching James Riley, I learned quite a bit about the early history of Indiana. It has all been quite interesting.

Even when roadblocks are encountered, as long as learning takes place, then learning goals have been accomplished. In fact, usually it is our roadblocks that we learn the most information. I have had to search different avenues to find material for the Lake James project, much different than researching for my family project.

I do think that a semester is too short for two projects. I think this class could accomplish even more with the focus on either family history or another project like Lake James. I would have liked to had more time to visit Steuben County and Lake James. Still, I enjoyed both projects and I'm very happy with the knowledge I have gained from working on both.