Four Ways Students Can Make an Impact Through Project-Based Service- Learning

My entire teaching career was at one school, and the philosophy is strongly rooted in "community" as the foundation for learning. In nine years teaching there I developed a deep appreciation for student-involvement in the community. 

Students have the capacity to make massive waves of change because they are young, technologically savvy, and many injustices happening in the world today are happening to them, impacting them directly.

​What they need from us are the tools, skills, and knowledge to have their voices heard. They have opinions, they have ideas. They just need a nudge, some guidance, and a little confidence. I offer all of that through project-based learning with a little service-learning twist. 

I designed a project-based learning resource that is entirely student-led. I call these experiences community action projects. They are a cool mix of project-based learning, problem-based learning, and service-learning. Students identify issues in the local and global community that are important to them, explore solutions, create action plans, and take action.

These types of projects teach many important social-emotional skills such as empathy and self-reliance.  They help students develop essential life and career skills such as collaboration and responsible citizenship. Most importantly, action in the community gives students the tools to make a positive impact long after they have completed the project, finished the class, or graduated from school. 

Check out my Community Action Project resources here for guiding templates.

Self-Directed Project-Based Service-Learning Project Ideas:

A community action project asks that students explore one community issue of interest and then develop an action plan to tackle the issue. My community action project resources help scaffold this experience such as offering "action" options. 

If you're unable to purchase one of my tool kits at this time, I encourage you to grab the password to my free experiential learning resource library. It has a community action projects brainstorming activity in it. Then come back and read the rest of this post!

Free Community Action Project Brainstorming Tool

 1) Giving Time/Volunteering/Community Service:

Giving time is one way students can be active in the community. Students can organize a community involvement club, have a weekly community clean-up days, regular visits to a food shelf, take on a role at a relevant established organization, and so on. Inspire students to identify community issues that matter to them, and to give their time to that cause.

2) Fundraising: 

Students love fundraising! Encourage them to direct that spirit toward a cause that is meaningful or relevant in their lives. Many people don't have the means to donate money from their own pockets, especially students. They can plan and host a fundraiser for a specific cause and donate money to a worthy cause that way.

3) Advocating for Legislation: 

This is a really important learning experience for students to have in my opinion. In many cases it is the most effective course of action one could take. The Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs (MAAP) coordinates an annual "Legislative Day", where students from across the state come to the capital to speak with their legislators. This is a powerful way for students to be heard.

This type of action also teaches students important citizenship concepts, among other things. I had a student who personally contacted her legislator to discuss a bill that would help ex-convicts get jobs, an important and personal issue to this particular student. That legislator traveled a long distance to come and meet with my student. 

4) Education/Raising Awareness:

Education is the most effective course of action in making long-term change. Say what you will about social media, but in this case, it is a huge ally. Information travels fast, far and wide when shared on social media platforms. Students are especially competent with technology. A simple awareness campaign poster posted on social media will reach more people in 5 minutes than a flier would in weeks.

Encourage your students to utilize these 21st C. communication skills to their benefit and the benefit of the community. If social media is not an option, challenge students to spread awareness far and wide without it.

​There are so many ways students can be active members of their communities. What seems like a small and simple gesture may not be small and simple for some. I had a student who wanted to get a crosswalk put into a high traffic area near the school. Getting a crosswalk put in may not bring world peace, but it's something, and an important something to that student and her community. 

Students can change the world one project at a time! 

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