Service-Learning is a method of study in which students apply course concepts through meaningful and pertinent service with the community, coupled with critical thinking and reflection. This method is designed to deepen understanding of academic concepts, while meeting course learning objectives and preparing students to be civically engaged.
Students participate in organized, sustained activities related to course objectives that genuinely meet community needs. Students reflect on their experience through discussions, journal writings, etc.
Direct, hands-on activities that connect theory with practice and could include site visits, internships, actions research, etc.
Student can work individually or in groups to use higher-level thinking skills to solve complex real-world problems. Faculty serve as guides and facilitators in this process.
Students work together in teams to investigate, research and understand complex issues and develop products based on their findings.
Activities that allow students to practice skills such as personal communication skills, knowledge of political systems and the ability to critically think about civic and political life.
Ongoing support is provided to faculty, staff, students and community members in civic engagement. These include some of the Center's signature events as Alternative Breaks, Community Exchange, Issue Awareness and more.
The Doyle Ryder Spanish Program is a course that was established through a partnership between the University of Michigan - Flint and Doyle Ryder Elementary School. Through this course, students have the opportunity to teach Spanish language to second graders at Doyle Ryder. Students are provided with instruction and materials for teaching Spanish at the elementary level, but are encouraged to design their own methods of presenting Spanish creatively to a classroom of young students.
The goal of this course is to study how people acquire a second language, including its phonology, morphology, lexicon, syntax and pragmatics. Topics include the characteristics of the learner, the role of instruction, the effect of a person's mother tongue and theories of the language learning process. Along with a discussion of the research findings of others, students have a tutorial experience with UM-Flint students who are improving their skills in English as a second language. This enables the student to test the theories as they relate to an actual learner.
This senior capstone course is designed to assess the broad range of skill and knowledge the students have acquired in the Communication Major. Through a series of individual and group projects the students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in communication. Generally, those skills are to communicate verbally in spoken and written forms, to conduct research, to understand and apply theories and to work with others. This course extends the students understanding of current trends, topics and cases of communication in organizational setting.
To explore academic service-learning ideas or arrange for University Outreach support for your courses, please contact Mona Munroe-Younis at (810) 424-5481.