Showing posts with label Service Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Service Learning. Show all posts

Thursday, March 3, 2011

An Awesome Opportunity! - The International Association for Research on Service Learning and Civic Engagement (Deadline - April 15th)



Readers,

If any of you are interested in attending and/or prsenting at a service learning conference, here is a great opportunity for you! The International Association for Research on Service Learning and Civic Engagement is accepting proposals for their national conference in Chicago, IL on November 2-4, 2011.

PAPER PROPOSALS:
Conference organizers will favorably review proposals that present research findings from:

Rigorous research design
Research that incorporates voices of community partners
Research based on authentic evidence
Comparative studies from cross-cultural perspectives
Conceptual frameworks with clear implications and recommendations
Meta-analysis of literature to date and implications for research agenda
Program evaluation that is the basis for research or comparative case studies

The extended Deadline for Proposal Submission April 15, 2011, by 11:59 p.m. (EST)

http://www.researchslce.org/conferences-awards/call-for-proposals/
Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Service Learning - Celebrate MLK Day By Serving Your Community!





Readers,

I realize that a majority of you have not started classes yet, but today is MLK Day! Celebrate MLK day by visiting the following websites to learn about the creat service opportunities that are available around your area on this day!

Here's a letter from Mr. Marco Davis, Director of Public Engagement for the Corporation for National and Community Service:

*Thanks National Service Press Office!


Dear Service Leaders,

Thanks to so many of you, the momentum of the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is building, and results will be extraordinary!

Across the nation, thousands of organizations will honor Dr. King and mark the 25th anniversary of his holiday by bringing Americans together in service to meet community needs.

As we go into the final stretch, we want to remind you of a few key things that will help ensure that the 2011 MLK Day is a great success.

Let Us Know Your Results:

• Tell us about your MLK Day project and how you made a difference using our Share Your Story tool (http://mlkday.gov/share/index.php).  Be sure to include not only the number of volunteers but also any facts or statistics about your project's impact (e.g. number of meals delivered, schools beautified, food packages assembled, homes weatherized, etc).  Include any involvement of elected officials, including service participation or proclamations issued. Your answers will help us highlight the many powerful ways Americans are honoring Dr. King through service.

Use Social Media:

• Like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MLKDay

• Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mlkday and include the #MLKDay hashtag in your tweets

• Share your project photos on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlkday/

Resources for You:

Our MLKDay.gov website has many helpful resources to make sure your project goes off without a hitch including tips on final preparations, an event checklisttalking pointsmedia tips and more.

We are about to unveil an extremely moving new MLK 25th anniversary video featuring Rep. John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, former Senator Harris Wofford and other civil rights and service leaders reflecting on Dr. King's legacy of service.  This video is perfect to show at your MLK Day of Service event. Look for it soon on MLKDay.gov, and use it to inspire your volunteers. 

To mark the 25th anniversary of the holiday, and to continue the momentum for the MLK Day of Service throughout the year, we are launching the MLK 25 Challenge: What Are you Doing for Others?  This initiative calls on Americans to honor Dr. King by pledging to take at least 25 actions during 2011 to make a difference for others and strengthen our communities.  Stay tuned for more details on MLKDay.gov.

Thanks again for all your hard work, and best of luck with all your planned activities.  We can’t wait to see the impact of your efforts.

In service,

Marco A. Davis
Director of Public Engagement
Corporation for National and Community Service


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Update Your Calendars - 2011 Days of Service

This is my FAVORITE calendar company!\
Readers,

Please do not forget to update your calendars to include the 2011 Days of Service! :)

These are the days of service for 2011 (courtesy of the One Star Foundation: The Texas Center for Social Impact):

January 2011 - National Mentoring Month
January 17, 2011 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 10-16, 2011 - National Volunteer Week
April 15-17, 2011 - National and Global Youth Service Day
May 7, 2011 - Join Hands Day
May 7-14, 2011 - AmeriCorps Week
September 11, 2011 - September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

October 23, 2011 - Make a Difference Day


Enjoy!

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Let the 2010-2011 National Learn & Serve Challenge Begin!!!

Let the 2010-2011 National Learn & Serve Challenge Begin

This week, thousands of young people, educators, community partners, civic leaders, and parents/families will commit to speaking up for service-learning in their local schools and communities. Our goals are simple:

1. To increase public awareness about service-learning as an effective strategy for school success, youth development and civic engagement;
2. To increase the number of service-learning opportunities available to young people in both school and community-based organizations; and
3. To increase public support for service-learning in local schools and communities nationwide.


ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE. Be a voice for service-learning this school year. Commit to spread the word about the power of service-learning. The Challenge will provide you with simple, but strategic ways to take action from October 2010 through April 2011 to build public awareness and support for service-learning.

Get Started with 3 Simple Steps:

1. SIGN-UP. Put your service-learning site on the national map of voices for service-learning. Enroll as an individual, classroom, youth group, club, school/campus, school district, organization, or community-wide initiative. Accept the Challenge now.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengeregistry-2010

2. BECOME A CHALLENGE PARTNER. List your school or organization as a proud supporter of service-learning and a partner in the National Learn & Serve Challenge. Become a Partner today.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengepartners-2010

3. INVITE 5 FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE WITH YOU. Download sample language to email friends, post on your website or share through your social networks to encourage others to help spread the word about service-learning.
http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/site/DocServer/LSChallenge-VirtualNetworking

For updates and information about ongoing opportunities to increase awareness and support for service-learning this week and throughout the year, visit the Learn & Serve Challenge website (
www.learnandservechallenge.org) or follow us on Twitter (@nslp).

Sign up today. Your voice matters!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lschallengeregistry-2010


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, April 26, 2010

A Great Co-Curricular Program - "Reflection Week" (Stephen F. Austin State University)

Today is the first day of "Reflection Week" at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX (my alma mater). After reading the campus newspaper, The Pine Log, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to highlight Reflection Week on my blog.

Here is the overview:


This merger between student affairs and academic affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University is an ingenious effort to reach students from both sides of the spectrum. This week enables students to reflect on concepts they learned this year and how these concepts helped them become better individuals. 


Monday, April 26th - WELLNESS: Students have an opportunity to win various prizes by responding with correct answers to wellness questions. This day will also feature an all-day open house in the recreation center. 

Tuesday, April 27th - LEADERSHIPThere will be a make-your-own "Wax Axe" table, a journaling wall, video blogging opportunities and prizes. 

In the evening, Jack Sacco, author of "Where the Birds Never Sing," will speak about his father's experiences from boot camp to the invasion of Normandy and liberation of a Nazi concentration camp in World War II. 



Wednesday, April 28th - SERVICE: A photo wall will be set up in the Spirit Lounge for students to reflect on the impact of their community service over the last year. There will also be video blogging and prizes.

Thursday, April 28th - DIVERSITY: Students can find out how their culture influences the way they see the world with an interactive exercise. The event is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Life, NAACP at SFA, Lumberjack Cultural Association, and the Organization of Latin Americans. Video blogging and prizes will be available Thursday as well.


At 7:30 p.m., The College of Liberal Arts and the Archie McDonald Speaker Series will host "An Evening with George Foreman" in the Grand Ballroom. 

Friday, April 29th - SCHOLARSHIP AND GRATITUDE: A Reflection Lunch, free to students, is "the highlight of the week," according to Dr. Adam Peck, dean of student affairs. It will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on the patio of the BPSC. Students and Dr. Michael Tkacik, director of the School of Honors, will speak on the subject of scholarship. 



I think this is a GREAT week-long program that will really make a differences in the lives of students, faculty, and staff at SFASU. Go Jacks! I hope the coordinator of the program uploads the videos on youtube!


Here is the link to a newspaper article promoting the event - http://media.www.thepinelog.com/media/storage/paper954/news/2010/04/12/News/Student.Affairs.To.Host.Week.Of.Reflection-3903803.shtml

Millennial Professor
Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Monday, November 9, 2009

"10 Ways Colleges Can Work With Their Communities"

Today, I finally had a chance to sort through my pile of articles from Chronicle of Higher Education. One article I saved is titled, "10 Ways Colleges Can Work With Their Communities" (Sarkisian & Taylor, 2009, p. A28). This article focuses on how higher education institutions can build a relationship with their surrounding communities through service learning initiatives. Here is the list from the article:
  1. Form partnerships with local non-profit organizations that share its institutional mission and vision.
  2. Offer campus spaces for community use.
  3. Adopt a public-school district.
  4. Adopt a local nonprofit or citizen-action organization.
  5. Offer scholarships to local students.
  6. Establish a faculty-speakers bureau.
  7. Encourage professors to make mutual beneficial service-learning assignments.
  8. Work with local officials to create a "Day of Service".
  9. Become a certifying organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award.
  10. Document community-service activities conducted by members of your campus community.
Every faculty and staff member should consider adopting these relationship-building initiatives with their surrounding communities. EVERYONE can do something! Form a partnership with a colleague or start something on your own, but MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

J. Edwards (Millennial Professor)

References

Sarkisian, G. V. & Taylor, S. (2009, September 11). 10 ways colleges can work with their communities. The Chronicle of Higher Education, p. A28.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The After the Degree, Now What?" Conference - Our Fall 2009 Service-Learning Event


I am so proud of my students! Recently, my wonderful students sponsored a service learning event titled, The "After the Degree, Now What?" Conference. The idea for this conference was conceived last summer when I read a wealth of articles pertaining to the amount of Texans with four-year degrees that were facing layoffs. In addition, since I teach undergraduate students, I was very concerned with our students gaining employment (that they are passionate about) after graduating from our university in next few months. Then, I contacted another professor in the Communication Department and the Career Services Department and the idea became an actual event. 

We wanted our COMS 101 students to present the sessions, because the students would provide a service for the community and learn more about public speaking at the same time. My Interpersonal Communication class and her Small Group Communication class planned the ENTIRE CONFERENCE!

These wonderful students developed the title, added items to the backwards plan, and worked the entire conference. In addition, our beginning public speaking class (COMS 101) presented most of the sessions. The only session that they did not present was the "Panel Discussion of Professionals", which featured panelists from the graduate school, career services department, small business development center, financial management division, and the Texas Workforce Commission.

Here is a list of our sessions - http://www.tinyurl.com/ATDNWsessions/.
 


We used Google Docs to collaborate amongst ourselves and this proved to be a wonderful resource! As a result of our hard work, over 90 students attended the sessions and over 95 students presented the sessions. These students represented each of the five colleges on campus and over 20 different majors.

This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I had the pleasure of working with the students who I teach in class every week. The students had the chance to know me outside of the classroom and I had the chance to see their true personalities. The students took ownership over the conference and made it their own. More importantly, I am very excited to offer a class project that will help the students develop their resume with service learning and job-related experiences.

I cannot wait until next year!

Dr. J. Edwards

Monday, January 19, 2009

MLK Day of Service

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! (A Day on, Not a Day Off)

I am too excited about today and tomorrow. As I stated in prior postings, I have always been excited about the presidential elections and this year is no exception.

Despite my excitement, I never bring my political views into the classroom. I strive to state both sides of controversial issues and I gave updates from both the republican and democratic national conventions.

Today, I am happy about the event tomorrow, yet unhappy about lack of MLK Day of Service activities in my area. I would have to travel 50+ miles to the nearest service activity. I would create one, but I am not quite sure how my community would respond to a MLK Day of Service. We are one of the black families in the community.

However, today I plan to prepare for this week's classes. What did you do for MLK day?

Millennial Professor

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Historically Black Colleges and Universities vs. Historically White Colleges and Universities


I attended WILEY COLLEGE!

I found this article http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/education/05wiley.html?ex=1354597200&en=cbbab7037f7e562e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss this morning during my weekly Sunday news feed read and I started recollecting on my dissertation topic, "Supports for and Barriers to On-Time Graduation as Perceived by Undergraduate African American College Students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Historically White Colleges and Universities". My study was based on institutions that are located in Texas.

After graduating from high school, I was selected to attend one of Wiley College's Summer Programs for college credit. Attending Wiley College was one of the most eye opening experiences of my life. I was immersed in almost a completely monocultural environment and I learned about the HBCU environment. While attending Wiley, I met one of the most supportive professors that I would have in my college experience and he enabled me to see how I could make a difference in the life's of students by becoming a professor.

In my opinion, Wiley College is the best HBCU academic institution in the Northeast region of Texas. Even when I put my bias aside, the literature also alludes to this fact. I think that HBCUs that have achieved a large level of academic success should be given more federal funds to sustain and increase their academic achievement rate. At the beginning of the fall semester, there were a few articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education that highlighted a current push by HBCU presidents to obtain more federal funding.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

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An End to a Long, Yet Productive Fall Semester!


I have almost finished my first semester as a full-time, tenure track faculty member! It has been a very long semester, but I have learned so much about the new institution, my academic department, and the students.

Another feat that I have accomplished is that I am GRADUATING on next Saturday! I am very excited about that chapter of my life coming to an end. So long ABD status!

I am currently deciding on my research goals for the next semester - service learning tops my list, intercultural communication takes a close second, and last but not least the dissertation articles.

Please let me know if you would like to collaborate!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

My Social Media Channels!
Of Course You Follow Me on Twitter! @drjtedwards
I Am Also on Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/drjtedwards/
Have You Subscribed on YOUTUBE yet?
Become a Fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook!
If You Love Periscope as Much as I Do...Follow Me There! - http://www.periscope.com/drjtedwards/
Email Me! I am PR Friendly! - jennifertedwards@gmail.com