Transcript Session II: International Internships

Session III:
International Service Learning (ISL)
Service Learning Definitions
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“Definitions vary considerably…
- Skinner and Chapman (1999)
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More than 147 definitions
- Kendall (1990)
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Some grouped in SL philosophy
SL pedagogy of education
Some purely nominal
Theoretical framework: EL
SL Definitions
Dewey’s philosophy establishes certain
characteristics for SL:
1. It is an experience or that it is experiential
[theory] with the aim of
2. a social justice goal;
3. can be educative if it can be
4. understood [reflection] while trying
to establish that social balance.
ISL Definition
“International service learning is an educational methodology
in which students' learning of a subject/s occurs in a foreign
context while interacting with the host community and
meeting a host country's community need. The learning
occurs through reflecting/refracting around the experience
which aims to promote understanding of the circumstances
underlying the host community’s needs and on some
occasions providing alternative solutions to ameliorate that
particular community need.”
- Pagano, 2006
Goals of ISL
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To enhance the academic content of the course
through interaction with the host community
To develop intercultural Knowledge
To learn to be intercultural proficient
To learn specific issues in the host culture
To develop critical thinking skills through
reflection pedagogy
To fully interact with the host community
To develop group goals that build community
To aim to reach the “reciprocity” concept
Other
Types of ISL Programs
Faculty Led
 Partnership
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Direct Enrollment
Hybrid
Travel Embedded
ISL Models: Academics
Discipline Based
Problem Based
or Seminar
Capstone Course
SL Internship?
SL Research?
Key Elements of ISL
Host Community/
Host Country
Faculty
Curriculum
Service Learning Center
Student
Provider
International Programs/
Study Abroad Office
ISL Element’s Analyses
Curriculum
Course
Learning Goals
Knowledge of
subject matter
Problem Solving
Skills
Intercultural
Knowledge
Pedagogy
Intercultural
Proficiency
Teaching Materials
Reciprocity
Host community
context
Group goals
Main Element: Worksite/Volunteer
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Worksite needs to be tied into every part
of the curriculum
ISL Pedagogy: Reflection
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Reflection:
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The act of reflecting or the state of being reflected.
Something, such as light, radiant heat, sound, or an
image, that is reflected.
Mental concentration; careful consideration.
A thought or an opinion resulting from such
consideration
Reflection-Refraction
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Reflection in Education
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Dewey: Vehicle to think about our
experiences
Critical Thinking: the mental process of
actively and skillfully conceptualizing,
applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and
evaluating information to reach an
answer or conclusion
Refraction
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Refraction: The turning or bending of any
wave, such as a light or sound wave,
when it passes from one medium into
another of different optical density.
De-fantasize fate!
Refraction Process
REFRACTION
CRITICAL THINKING
REFLECTION
Levels of Thought Analysis in II and ISL:
Towards Refraction
REFLECTION
CRITICAL THINKING
REFRACTION
Starts a dialogue
Weights viewpoints
Alternative solutions
Recollection
Revises
clarifies
Passive
Passive/aggressive
Active
Accepts
Questions
Defines
Old materials
Past and present materials
New material
Individual perspective Alternative perspectives
Integrates all perspectives
Personal
Concerns with others
Public
Reviews
Scrutinizes
Selects
Monocultural
Multicultural
Intercultural
Individual
Makes connections with others
Engages with others and
scholarship
Search
First step in providing evidence
Unmasks paradigms *
Uncovers situations
Refraction
Curriculum
context
Pedagogical
Strategies
Refraction
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Assessment and Evaluation
Knowledge
Subject Matter
Context
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Skills
Ability to look at alternative perspective
Ability to interact with the host culture
Attitudes
Willingness to seek out international or intercultural
opportunities
Accepts cultural differences and tolerates cultural
ambiguity
Refraction: Teamwork
What types of assignments?
 What features do assignments need?
 What logistics need to take place?
 Other
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ISL and II Refraction Examples
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Essay
Multiple choice
Journal
Portfolios
Presentations
Community Analysis
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Research Papers
Role-plays
Related Story Telling
Video Diary
Learning Logs
Re-entry activity*
ISL and II Refraction Examples
Steps in the thinking process that leads to learning goals in an
experiential learning situation
ISL: Environmental Issues Example
Reflection/Critical Thinking
After:
“I drew the river with different colors. I drew
the Tapajos river with brown to show its
true color and then the Amazon in blue. The
Tapajos River is a tributary of the Amazon.
I mixed both colors where they get
together. People here depend heavily on
the river for anything they do. I never knew
parts of the river are so polluted and it is
creating so many problems for so many
communities. We need to take this into
consideration and start prosecuting the
responsible for so much pollution. It does
not seem that much is done about that…”
ISL: Environmental Issues Example
Critical Thinking/Refraction
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“The tapajos river is an effluent of the
Amazon river, the second largest river in
the world. There is increasing concern
about the potential neurotoxic effects of
exposure to methylmercury for the 6
million people living in the Amazon, even
in regions situated far away from the gold
mines (garimpos), considered to be the
major source of mercury pollution….
Refraction
“A list of actions we can take regarding pollution
are hard to reach, considering the widespread
corruption in the Amazon region. However, fish
are contaminated with mercury in the area and
kids we have seen so far in the fishing villages
are truly sick. The Rotary clubs in the area are
trying to help cure the sick but they are not able
to fight the source of the problem. They bring
physicians who volunteer to work with patients
who have river illnesses….”
Writing Time