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Show THE FORUM CAMPUS 3 - OCTOBER 19,2011 Out of the dassroom and into the community Katherin Nelson Staff Reporter Students are leaving the classroom and getting their feet wet with hands-o- n experience in service-learni- ng Christy Seifert decided to teach Technical Writing as a service-learni- dents classes. ng real-wor- ld class to give stu- experience prac- Over the past several years there has been a teaching to learning paradigm shift at Westminster. This means professors are shifting their focus from what ticing the theories explored in her class. Seiferts class meets once a week at Friendship Manor, a senior living facility. they are teaching to how students are learning. One way professors are do- ing seniors computer skills, which provides Friendship Manor with free instruction, but also gives the students the opportunity to research senior learning needs. Seifert hopes that spending ing this is by offering designated service-learni- ng that classes give students practical experience field nonin the with working profit partners. For example, students taking Shamby Polychronis Behavioral Support in Special Education classclass spend time in K-rooms observing and analyzing child behavior. The one thing we could absolutely never do here in the school of education is accurately 12 simulate an educational setting of K-1-2, says Polychronis. Polychronis says that by parin service-learniticipating classes students learn to adapt to things they do not experience in the classroom. Students have to recoup from a fire drill in the middle of a lesson. They see school systems that have been taxed with cuts in staff ng d and finding, and gain knowledge of how that affects a childs education, said first-han- Her students have been teach- class time working with clients will enhance the concepts that students are learning in class. She also thinks this model of learning will help class subject matter become more clear and memorable to the students because there are personal relationships attached to Ingle says a common example of this is when the person giving the service is only focused on how great it is making them feel when they have no idea that the recipient of the service may be feeling ashamed or upset. He said that type of situation only perpetuates inequality and is one of the negatives that can come out of service. Several professors interviewed said service learning is different from volunteering. Polychronis says in service are several ques- learning there tions to consider: What are you benefitting from? Does it change a community? What is your role? What is your responsibility? What is your obligation, as well the theories. Peter Ingle, who is currently teaching Service Learning in Salt Lake City, believes there are some concepts that are better learned outside of the classroom. I could spend 12 credit hours a semester for an entire year and I could never truly help you to understand what poverty is like in a way that perhaps someone who is poor could, said Ingle. Ingles class focuses on the concept of service as a whole. Ingle says a lot of people do service because it makes them feel good, and that service often ends up being one sided. as whats your benefit? Even though in Ingles view sendee should be based on the needs of those you are serving, he says that in service-learniclasses, the students often benefit more from the experience than the organization with which they ng partner. Seifert, however, hopes the relationship is mutually beneficiaL She believes her students are providing a service that will be used and appreciated as much as the learning opportunity has been. Though there are pros and cons to courses, Seifert believes the sacrifices you make in the classroom are outweighed by the skills you learn service-learni- ng Presidential Ambassadors Tyson Olcott Staff Reporter I student representatives of Westminster College who share their experiences with individuals interested in or already supporting the school, said Melanie Long, a sophomore and a Presidential Ambassador. This role is more than advertising: it is a way of sharing our sincere enthusiasm for this great college and and a way of keeping the people who make the schools continued progress possible connected to the life of students at Westminster, said donors, but those friends and donors would rather hear about and understand Westminster College from students first hand. Those are more powerful stories, said Dana Tumpowsky, Presidential Ambassador program coordinator. The Presidential AmbassaLong. The President and Advancedor program was implemented at Westminster a few years ago, ment staff can explain Westminster and the importance of sup- but it faded out. This year was porting students to friends and the first year that the Office of Advancement tried to bring the program back to life. The Presidential Ambassa- dor program is a newly Nick Mijic, Brian Fredrich Top: Brandon Lloyd, Zeke Elias, Tyson Olcott, Laura Leon, Sara McCaskey, Melanie Long Fratto, Bottom: Akosua Amankwatia, Alysa working in an outside setting. Westminster students donated over 48,000 service hours last year. Student and faculty commitment to service learning has earned Westminster the Carn In order to become Meet your student representatives Out of over 3,000 students, 10 individuals were selected to be student representatives for Westminster. They are known as the Presidential Ambassadors. Presidential Ambassadors are Freshman Alyssa Dolgin tutors a refugee child Welcome Center. reorga- nized program at Westminster in which a small group of sophomores and juniors is appointed to attend fundraising events and other meetings where a student representative would have an opportunity to share his or her experiences with members of the wider community. Students are nominated by faculty for the position and then go through an interview process, said Long. a Presi- dential Ambassador, you must first be nominated by a professor or professional staff member of the college. Then an application must be submitted, along with a personal interview. And finally a small group is hand selected by the president of the college and Office of Advancement staff members. I wanted to become a Presidential Ambassador because of the amount of passion and pride that I have for this institution. Being a student at Westminster has been the best experience I have ever had, and if I can help to make that a reality for someone else, then Ive done my job, said Brandon Lloyd, sophomore and Presidential Ambassador. Ambassadors Presidential have a wide range of responsibilities, including meeting with alumni and being the student representation for Westminster. Some of my duties as a Presidential Ambassador include attending the Annual Scholarship Gala, Board of Trustee meetings, and other functions in which a student representative of the school may be required, said Alysa Fratto, sophomore and Presidential Ambassador. at the User Ner Moo Community and egie Classification for Community engagement and it has been recognized on the Presidents Higher Education Community Service honor roll over the last five years. In order to be a Presidential students must be committed to a full year of the program, maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and remain in good disciplinary standing with the college. As well as attending orientation, monthly meetings, the Scholarship Gala, the Scholarship Luncheon, and at least one Board of Trustees meeting each year, and the ambassadors must have an appropriate presence on social media sites such as Face-boand Twitter. To me, being a Presidential Ambassador means taking time to meet with Board of Trustee Members, donors, distinguished guests, friends of the college, as well as many other people from Ambassador ok all walks of life, said Lloyd. It means informing individuals about the goals of the college, the direction it is headed, and the stops it plans to make along the way. But above all, it means telling others that not only is Westminster a unique environment for learning; it is the best environment for learning, said Lloyd. More information about the program can be found at www. |