Printer Friendly

What is Service-Learning?
At GW, Service-Learning is defined as, "a philosophy and teaching methodology that integrates meaningful community service into course curriculum to enhance academic rigor by helping students achieve learning outcomes" (GW Service-Learning Advisory Board, 2007, 4).  

ISCOPES is intentionally designed as a co-curricular learning experience that supports and extends the learning from each of the participating academic programs. Students engage in activities that address human and community needs, deepen knowledge by utilizing the curriculum, and make connections between their experience working with the community and the curriculum through reflection. 

What makes ISCOPES a Service-Learning experience for students?
       Students learn through the combination of:

• Small group discussion—with their teams, including input from faculty and community advisors. As part of their projects, students may also choose to organize small group discussions with community members served by their site. This process enables them to learn from the community what their needs are and how best to address them.
  

• Online coursework—involves utilizing resources provided through the ISCOPES website and reading online curriculum material and incorporating it into their work on their project.
  
  
• Large group meetings—held at least twice a year, in which each ISCOPES team updates the larger group on the status of their activities. Large group discussion allows students to reflect, to learn what other ISCOPES teams are doing, to share resources and insight that may be helpful to other teams, and to celebrate team accomplishments.
  
  
• Community Involvement—providing a service to a specific community involves spending time with that community to determine how best to deliver that service.

Most importantly…

• Developing, Implementing and Evaluating a Project in the community that addresses community-identified concerns utilizing the methods learned in the ISCOPES curriculum.

Where can I learn more about Service-Learning at GW?
            Click here to read "The Report on Service-Learning at GW" written in February 2007 by the GW Service-Learning Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of faculty, administrators, students, and community leaders.