Service-learning Brings New Dimension to Courses at MiraCosta.

Reading to the blind, teaching swimming to children with cerebral palsy, being a companion to the elderly, or brightening the lives of AIDS patients may not sound like college projects. But for a number of MiraCosta College students in a wide variety of courses, these and other Service-learning experiences have enhanced their classroom learning and enriched their lives.

"Nothing compares to going out, hands-on completely, then going through your textbook and notes, thinking about what you observed, and writing a paper on it," says Kate Johnston(1), who as part of her work in Karen Baum's Social Psychology course helped host a social event for adults with Down's syndrome. "It was very interesting, and definitely a learning experience."

Service-learning is currently a component in 35 courses in 18 disciplines including art history, biology, business, English, health, horticulture, psychology, Spanish, and math. Opportunities for service vary widely, as do the ways in which instructors incorporate it into their curricula. Students may spend as little as four hours or as many as forty hours in a service-learning experience. And service may be an option or a course requirement.

Instructors say some students are initially unenthusiastic about doing community service as part of class. But usually even the most reluctant come away from the experience with a new perspective and a powerful feeling of satisfaction.

"I nearly went into convulsions when I found out that this assignment would be worth 20 percent of my grade," says Paul Hoover who spent 20 hours tutoring Hispanic children at the San Luis Rey Police Resource Center to fulfill a service-learning requirement in Susan Herrmann's English 100 course. "I went into the assignment feeling anxious and sorry for myself. Now I wouldn't trade the experience for anything."

Laura Estrella, who also took Susan's English class, chose to read to the elderly at the Village Square Nursing Center in San Marcos as her service-learning project. During the course of her visits she became friends with one particular patient, a woman with multiple sclerosis who was once a member of the Peace Corp. Now, although Laura's course requirement is complete, she--like other MiraCosta students--is continuing her service, just because she wants to do so.

"I can't leave her wondering why I decided to stop showing up. I'm also very proud to serve someone who is in need and was in the Peace Corps," Laura says. "After each visit I feel renewed, vibrant, good-natured, and wiser. I am no longer scared to travel the halls of this nursing home because I know that everyone has his or her own story to tell."

Although service-learning is new to many students, volunteerism is a longstanding tradition at MiraCosta College. For many years students have collected Christmas presents for local needy children who otherwise would not get gifts. Art students have painted murals to brighten the Children's Museum in Carlsbad. Music students have given performances at retirement homes. Members of the basketball team have served meals at a local homeless shelter. Health students have worked with Alzheimer's patients, disabled children, AIDS patients, and others.

"It's another teaching tool; a method that teachers can use for students to learn," says Mia McDonald, who in her previous role as student activities coordinator was instrumental in expanding service-learning at MiraCosta. Mia differentiates between volunteerism--something that is done with or without the purpose of learning--and service-learning, which is learning through community service. Students agree that service, in conjunction with classroom learning, really brings it all together.

"There is a tremendous difference between reading about something in a book and actually having the opportunity to implement what was learned," says Wendy Fryer, who, along with the majority of her classmates in Sally Foster's Psychology of Learning and Research course, worked on behavior modification projects at Solana Beach elementary schools. "I am very grateful for the opportunity to apply what I've learned to a real-life situation."

It's not just students who gain from their service-learning experiences; the recipients of the service and even local professionals often gain as well. Take Sally's class, for example: Dr. Sharon Loveman, the school psychologist in the Solana Beach School District, says the behavior modification project was a unique opportunity for teachers to get training from psychology students "in the conceptual trenches." Kids who had been displaying negative behavior patterns often changed those patterns, following observation and suggestions from the students. And students got more than an on-site lesson in psychology and behavior modification.

"The best day was the last day, when the teacher told the children I was leaving," says psychology student Sonia Meyers, "and my student gave me a hug."

(*) Although all quotes are verbatim, student names have been changed.

Lynn Pierce holds a bachelor's degree in English and journalism from the University of Wisconsin. She has worked as a teacher and a reporter, and for the past 10 years, has served as the public information coordinator at MiraCosta College.