Service Learning Program
“I truly believe these service-learning experiences have made me a more effective teacher and have provided students a voice and a chance to show how much of a difference they can make as a citizen, even at a young age.”
-Barry J. Guillot, NBCT | 8th Grade Earth Science, Harry Hurst Middle School
About
Service Learning gives students the opportunity to meet community needs through hands-on experiences that tie classroom curriculum to service.
The STEM Library Lab Service Learning Program offers funds to support service learning projects for K-12 schools in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Service Learning Program is generously funded by the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation.
Our program adheres to the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) definition and standards of Service Learning. All funded service learning projects must include classroom learning, a partnership with a service organization, and follow the IPARD (Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration) model developed by NYLC.
We highly recommend that all teachers attend a service learning workshop to learn more about service learning and the application process. Upcoming current workshops are listed below under “Timeline of Deadlines, Workshops, Events.” Got questions? Contact the Director of Programming, Jestin Moorehead, at jestin[at]stemlibrarylab.org or 504.410.5022.
If you are an organization that would be interested in partnering with us on a service learning project, please read through our proposal packet and contact the Director of Programming.
What is Service Learning?
Service learning is a teaching strategy that allows students to address real-world problems within their communities as part of their academic studies. This instruction method requires ongoing reflection exercises that bridge the gap between theoretical (classroom studies) and practical (experiential) knowledge. In the end, students understand the relevance of what they are learning and experience how they can make an impact.
To be clear, service learning is not synonymous with community service or volunteerism. Community service and volunteerism do not typically include an academic component or learning about social issues in an organized fashion. Unlike service learning, the project planning involves little to no input from participants, and there is no focus on reflection, building partnerships, or improving knowledge and skills.
Benefits of Service Learning
Students gain…
- 21st century skills: critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, decision-making, collaboration, and communication
- Deeper connection between academic knowledge and real-world applications
- Greater understanding of themselves and empathy and respect for others
- Opportunities to explore skills and interests and to network for career readiness
- Provides enhanced awareness and understanding of social issues
- Guided practice in active and effective citizenship
- Increased self-efficacy as they address community needs
Schools gain…
- Increased pro-social behavior and student engagement
- An effective drop-out prevention strategy
- Positive school-community relationships
Communities gain…
- Energy and creativity of youth in addressing communities needs
- Opportunities to build positive relationships between community and schools
- New perspectives on youth as assets, not liabilities
Principal’s Award
As an added incentive, a “Principal’s Award” of $500 is given to each school that is awarded funding for one or more service learning projects. These are unrestricted funds to benefit the school’s students, service learning program, or other projects.
Timeline of deadlines, workshops, events
December 13, 2024:
Mid-Project Reports due
January 16, 2025, 5:30pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
January 25, 2025, 12pm:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
February 3 – May 2, 2025:
2025-2026 Application Season Begins!
February 4, 2025, 5pm:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
February 6, 2025, 3:30-7pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Join us for our Service Learning Grant Writing Support Nights at STEM Library Lab, held twice a month throughout the application season! These sessions are designed to guide you through the grant writing process, address any questions, and provide assistance with completing final report forms. – Register here.
February 11, 2025, 5pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
February 13, 2025, 3:30-7pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Register here.
February 20, 2025, 11am:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
March 11, 2025, 5pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
March 13, 2025, 4-7pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Register here.
March 18, 2025, 3-6pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Register here.
March 24, 2025, 5:30pm:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
March 27, 2025, 11am:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
April 1, 2025, 5pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
April 3, 2025, 5:30pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
April 4, 2025:
Early application submission deadline. Applications submitted after April 4, 2025, will be considered/reviewed as is and a determination on funding will be made without feedback or opportunities to make revisions.
April 4, 2025, 2-5pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Join us for our Service Learning Grant Writing Support Nights at STEM Library Lab, held twice a month throughout the application season! These sessions are designed to guide you through the grant writing process, address any questions, and provide assistance with completing final report forms. – Register here.
April 8, 2025, 5pm:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
April 14, 2025, 11am:
Ready-to-Go Overview – Register
April 15, 2025, 3-6pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Register here.
April 23, 2025, 5:30pm:
Service Learning Basics Workshop – Register
April 29, 2025, 3-6pm:
Grant Writing Support Night – Register here.
May 2, 2025:
- 2024-2025 Final Reports due
- 2025-2026 Applications due
The IPARD Framework
The IPARD Framework represents the student-centered inquiry model in a service-learning project. Service-learning takes students through a five-stage process of Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration (IPARD).
Investigation: Identify a need or area of interest in their school or community.
Preparation and Planning: Engage in planning, implementation, and evaluation processes.
Action: Begin the act of service.
Reflection: Reflect on the experience before, during, and after.
Demonstration: Share their experience with family, friends, school and/or community.
According to the National Youth Leadership Council, “Every part of the [IPARD] process is rich with learning and growth opportunities, many of them happening as students investigate community needs, identify a doable
action, plan and carry out service activities, reflect throughout the process, and share their learnings with the larger community. Even when the action seems complete, the transformation power of the process continues as students, teachers, and communities grow and new needs arise.”
