Talking Points #5

"In The Service Of What?" The Politics of Service Learning
By: Joseph Kahne and Joel Westheimer

1. "We attempt to "apprehend the reality of the other" and then to "struggle (for progress) together." In doing so we create opportunites for changing our understanding of the other and the context within which he or she lives (pg. 5)."

I agree with the quote. Throughout life, you come across millions of people who are different from you. These differences create opportunites, and open doors for us to learn about and understand these differences. Although we are different, we all work together to axchieve a common goal to move away from a certain injustice or problem in society. People need to keep an open mind, and see things from somebody else viewpoint. Everybody has the freedom to voice their own opinion. Nobodys opinion should be judged, nor is one opinion right or wrong. Maybe listening to others viewpoints will alter yours. Not change yours. Just alter. As you grow and gain knowledge, I feel as though many peoples opinions about certain aspects of life change.

2. "The ability of a service learning curriculum to foster authentic, experienced-based learning opportunities, to motivate students, to help students engage in higher-order thinking in contextually varied environments, and to promote interdisciplinary studies... (pg.6)."

-Service learning is about experiencing learning opporunties. Going out and doing things. Hands on learning. Using more than one of your senses to understand something. Out of the classroom activites usually motivate students, because their not in a "boring" classroom setting. High-order thining involves hands on and mind on activites. Not just one of the two.


3. "While an additonal emphasis on chairty might lead to service learning activities that raise self-esteem, impel students into new experiences, and demonstrate the value of scholastic abilities in real-world contexts, educators who focus on transformative vision would want to carry this work one step further. For them, it is the combination of service and critical analysis, not either by itself, that seems most likely to promote interest in and insight into these complex social issues (pg.11)."

Look at the words i choice to bold. Isnt that what its all about?! Raising childrens self-esteem. Making them proud of their work, which will make them want to excel and take learning to the next level. New experiences makes learning fun for students. It keeps the students attentions, and keeps them on their toes wondering what will happen next. Rather than walking into a classroom saying, "Oh cant wait to get lectured today...". Keeping the students interested and excited about what they are learning, will also show in their grades. Scholastic abilities in real-world contexts will help students in the classroom because they will be able to relate things back to their personal life and this will help the learning process. All teachers should promote interest and insight into complex issues. No matter how complex the issues may be, if the student is interested in itm and you coach them through it will insight, they well dense it down into understanding terms and strive to achieve. Why? Because you interested them, and created the drive within them.

I believe more teachers need to teach in the way I just described in the previous paragraph. Make students want to learn. Thats whats its all about. Seeing them smile. Interested in what they are doing. Always wondering whats going to happen next. Why certain things are the way they are. Comparing differences. Teachers need to pull that drive out of students. Dont lose all of your students by being one of those dull teachers who just lectures and assigns handouts. Provide real-life, hands on activites. Interest students. Build their confidence and watch them succeed in all that they do.