It is important for the students to be able to choose from a menu of service learning opportunities. This gives them the opportunity to lean towards their passion instead of being told what to do.
Sometimes students don't have any idea of what possibilities exist. Having a menu helps them both with that and also with the ability to expand the menu and think up new options on their own.
I think not only does having a menu of opportunities shows students what is actually available for them in service learning, and identifies opportunities but also I think it educates them further what service learning is, how they specifically they will be able contribute to the community, and what they will get out of it.
Just like their are different flavors of ice cream - everyone is drawn to something different. Students will be drawn to different experiences based on confidence levels, skills, interest, beliefs, etc. If you only have one choice not all students will be interested in getting involved.
A menu of possibilities shows what has worked in the past given similar time and budget constraints. It also helps to eliminate pie in the sky ideas that might have to be taken off a list as unrealistic and create a barrier to new ideas generated.
Diane
Hi Laura, I like the ice cream metaphor!
Diane
A menu is an awesome idea, it would allow studeies to choose own their own an element in which they have interest.
A menu would allow personal choices which translates to a sense of ownership to the student. It also gives the student a chance to see areas that perhaps were not recognized.
Students become committed and look forward to the service learning activity, if they have an opportunity to choose the activity. They see themselves as being active participants in service learning. In addition, they have the opportunity to pursue their interest and passion by selecting their service learning activity.
This is importnant because not all students want to work in the same type of establishment. Just because they may be learning the same material, doesn't mean their choice of employement will be the same. Everyone has in their mind what they think their ideal place to work would be. A menu of choices can help the student find that place get excited about it.
to allow them to see what is available with in the organization .as well as to so them a different carrer path.
The more opportunities there are for students, the more they can and will become involved with the school, other students, and the community. It is good for students to see different opportunities such as working with children, supporting military groups, and many other local groups that can use our assistance, and we can benefit from the experience of working with them as well.
If students understand the possibilities that are on offer for them, they can better take advantages of the opportunities for them. A menu would outline jobs and the tasks associated with the service learning opportunity.
Why is it a good practice to make available to students a menu of service learning opportunities?
It is a good practice to make available to students a menu of service learning opportunities because it allows the student to choose a service that they have a connection to and that they can feel a sense of with.
The more opportunities given to students the more likely they will find what really sparks their interest. Even though they learn the same material it does not mean they all have the same goal. This helps them to recognize other areas that otherwise might have been overlooked.
For me the key word in the questionnaire is"Available". Today with so many people having busy lives and today' students preoccupied with social media it is important to make it not only available but accessible for students. There are so many opportunities to engage students in service learning opportunities that it will be beneficial to the community as a whole to have as an option the tool for the advancement of the student and the community they reside in.
It is good practice because a lot of our students (culinary field) think that when they graduate they only have one option and that is to work in the restaurant. It shows them how diverse you can be in a single field and you can find your own area wherein you can be happy.
I agree with you 100 percent. Choice is something that's personal. It gives the person a desire to make the right one and the one that can make or break them.
It provided the student options to consider and determine what is priority within their studies. It provides ownership for ones career goals
A menu is good because it gives many choices. Not everybody is interested in the same thing, so a menu would give the student a choice. It also may show the student an opportunity that they hadn't thought about.
