From classrooms to real world

Service-Learning: Four questions for Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs, Dianne Gereluk

This year, more than 200 undergraduate students in the Werklund School of Education are participating in service-learning opportunities.  These pre-service teachers sign up to connect with a wide range of community and UCalgary campus partners; they work with children and youth, apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real world situations, build their professional network, and add to their co-curricular records.

Q: Why is it important for undergraduate students to take part in a service-learning experience?

“Service-learning allows students to integrate their understanding of learning and teaching with service in the community through purposeful, meaningful activities that support student growth.  For our undergraduate students, it provides real life opportunities to apply what they are learning in their Bachelor of Education program to the various community organizations that are supporting children and youth is a multitude of ways.” 

Q: What’s the benefit to the student?

“Service-learning bridges theory that they learn on campus to the actual practice and real lives of children and youth in their community.  It further opens up students’ understandings of the various organizations that support and augment the learning that occurs in classrooms.  Very simply, the phrase that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ is incredibly poignant to that of service-learning.  Pre-service teachers can get meaningful opportunities to work alongside the great work that is happening in the communities.

Many of our students commonly note that their service-learning opportunity was a life changing event, which gave them a deeper understanding of the children that they are serving.  We find that there is a renewed and deeper commitment and passion toward the teaching profession, and more appreciation about the nuances about the teaching profession.

This important work is acknowledged on the students’ transcripts, which is a good indicator of the student going above and beyond the normal commitments in the Bachelor of Education program.”

Q: What do the hosting institutions get out of it?

“Many of the community organizations rely on volunteers to facilitate their programs.  This is a win/win for the hosting institution.  They can mentor pre-service teachers regarding the principles and aims of the organization in supporting children.  And reciprocally, our pre-service teachers can often bring fresh ideas about ways in which to support children within the context of the particular organization.  The sharing of these meaningful learning experiences provides growth of understanding for both the hosting institution and the student.”

Q: And the benefits to the Werklund School of Education?

“One of the central principles that underpins the Werklund School of Education undergraduate program is to foster community engagement.  We want Werklund School of Education to be a community hub of ideas and practices at all levels.  In this way, we can consult and collaborate with our key community partners and work together to see how we can support learning in formal and informal learning environments.”