“We are excited to launch our new website to better serve and empower educators to create service-learning experiences for their students,” said NYLC’s CEO, Amy Meuers. “We value youth leadership and contribution and this new website amplifies the positive change youth are making in this world through service-learning.”

The website is packed with resources to help educators integrate service-learning into their curriculum, including toolkits, best practices, and access to a community of service-learning educators. In addition, the website provides information about NYLC’s programs, resources, and services. Additionally, it amplifies youth voice and contribution through a student showcase and the Power of Young People podcast.

“This is a key part of our efforts to provide the best service-learning resources and support to educators,” said Meuers. “We know that service-learning is a powerful tool for building stronger, more civically-engaged communities, and we are committed to providing the resources and support educators need to make service-learning a reality in their classrooms.”

The launch of the new website is an exciting milestone for NYLC as it turned 40 this year, and the organization is confident that it will help to inspire more educators to embrace service-learning and make a positive impact on their communities. To learn more about the new website and NYLC’s service-learning resources, visit www.nylc.org. 

About National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC):

NYLC is a leading service-learning organization committed to empowering educators and students to create positive change in their communities. For over 40 years, NYLC has transformed classrooms, empowered teachers, and captivated students by leading the way in providing high-quality, dynamic service-learning content to school districts, classrooms, after-school programs, and everything in between.

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Every young person is affected by the symptoms of these challenges whether it be the fear of returning to school after a mass shooting, navigating water shortages, or dealing with microaggressions or bullying in the classroom. There are no easy answers to the challenges of racism, gun violence, climate change, mental health, etc. but one thing we at NYLC know for certain is that young people must be part of the solution.

Engaging young people in service-learning experiences helps them develop the skills, knowledge, and mindset to make meaningful change happen. It creates connection and a sense of belonging to the community through genuine contribution. It helps young people develop new relationships with each other as well as with the adults around them. They are able to tap into their passion, creativity, and ingenuity to address real world issues.

Service-learning is an approach to teaching and learning in which students use academic and civic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs. It is a type of experiential and project-based learning that drives students’ academic interests and passions toward addressing issues impacting our world. It also builds their capacity to self-manage, make responsible decisions, create relationships, and to be self and socially aware.

Educator L. Al-Tarawneh said it best, “To me, service learning is a budding seed of hope. The power of youth proves to the world that change is possible, and can satiate the everlasting demands of the community…Service learning is the best chisel that reflects the knowledge in books to real life experiences; in other words, it germinates from a change-thirsty community to a blooming one. The youth learn the value of collaboration by establishing partnerships and working together as a team. Definitely, service learning creates influential future leaders”.

We understand that service-learning alone won’t change the world but young people across the country finding their voice and taking action definitely will.

The post Service-Learning is a Budding Seed of Hope first appeared on National Youth Leadership Council.

Service-learning allows for meaningful learning opportunities for youth through contribution to community. It empowers young people to address issues they see in their school, in their community, or around the world. It provides them an opportunity to feel empowered, to share their voice, and to engage in the civic process. When students have service-learning experiences, they build a commitment to life-long service.

To ensure service-learning experiences continue in these uncertain times, we have put together best practices for online service-learning. We want the process of service-learning to be done with quality so that it continues to meet the needs of students and educators alike.

Online Service-Learning Best Practices:

• Set norms for how you will work together. Be clear expectations, communication, and behaviors.
• Cultivate belonging. We know relationships matter so pay close attention to strategies that build relationships like one-on-one interactions, small group discussions, and discussion boards.
• Focus on the process of service-learning, not the platform. The pedagogy of service-learning engages students in the learning process, gives them a voice, and builds their connection to each other and the community.
• Identify what learning outcomes you want for your students (academic, civic, social-emotional, etc.)
• Determine how you will know they have met learning outcomes. (What criteria will you use? What evidence will you collect? How will you assess learning at the end of the experience?)
• Then, facilitate students through the IPARD process:
  • Investigation: students need to understand root causes of the issue they want to address. Understanding why the problem exists is an essential part of the problem-solving process. Much of investigation can be done remotely. Students can read articles, interview experts via phone, send out community surveys, or scour the internet for information (learning to distinguish between fact and opinion).
  • Planning & Preparation: planning is fundamental to ensuring students are ready serve as a cohesive team. Technology is made for collaboration and teamwork. Students create timelines, task lists, budgets and more.
  • Action: the service part of service-learning does not have to be direct (in-person). In-direct service activities like raising funds or supplies are great ways to do service. Partnering with a local nonprofit that has safety protocols in place for receiving donations ensures student safety. Advocating or educating others about your issue is another way to safely serve remotely.
  • Reflection: learning does not come from the act of service but in thinking about the experience itself.  Whether personal, small group, or the entire class, reflection reinforces student learning outcomes. Reflection can be written, visual, auditory, or more.
  • Demonstration: sharing students’ experiences is an important culmination of the service-learning process. Technology allows students to be creative in telling their story and allows them to share broadly. Whether students create storyboards or podcasts, write a blog or newspaper article, or develop a play or music performance. Demonstration provides evidence of student learning and effect on the community issue.
• Together, the students and teacher then assess the success of their experience. Did students meet the learning outcomes? Did they meet the community need? What worked? What would you have done differently?
• Lastly, try different technology engagement strategies.  Start with a few that you know and then don’t be afraid to experiment.  Ask your students if they have any platforms that they prefer.  Maybe even have one of the young people lead the experience.

When teachers lead students through the process of service-learning whether online, in person, or a hybrid of both, students will gain the knowledge and skills to become civically informed and engaged citizens who have the know-how to make the world a better place.

The post Best Practices for Online Service-Learning first appeared on National Youth Leadership Council.

July 4th the day of the fireworks and America’s birthday. July 4th is a holiday meant to cause happiness and joy. It is a day for family get togethers, picnics and amazing fireworks. This is what the 4th of July means to most people. What does July 4th mean to me? To me, July 4th starts a week earlier when you can hear fireworks around the neighborhood. I get both excited and nervous. I am excited because I expect the festivities to be fun. I am anxious because July 4th wasn’t really designed for people like me. The 4th of July is expressed by blue, red and white themed desserts at the store. It is hearing about the upcoming holiday when making plans with family or friends at the end of June. July 4th symbolizes the American spirit and how it is mass marketed to the typical American audience. July 4th is seeing the beautiful and ugly sides of patriotism. July 4th is a fun loving day where you can be happy.

July 4th is also filled with bitterness and hatred. To me, July 4th is a complex feeling of both positives and negatives that has shaped and made me aware of my identity over the years. My family doesn’t take July 4th as seriously as most people. So to me, July 4th isn’t a holiday to celebrate or get ready for but a day to relax and enjoy some fireworks. Most years, I spend the 4th of July with my mother and siblings, counting down the time until we leave to see the firework display; betting on how long they will last. My siblings love the fireworks display. I don’t look forward to July 4th like most people but I do enjoy the positive energy it brings which always puts me in a good mood. The 4th of July means seeing other people that you don’t know while watching fireworks and making room for them next to you if they can’t find a place to sit. It’s going on Snapchat and seeing your friends post badly timed photos of fireworks on their story with the cheesy caption of “HAPPY INDEPENCE DAY!!”. July 4th to me is about the unity of a nation, all kinds of people coming together and celebrating the birth of a nation that they are a part of. July 4th despite it’s problematic aspects is something that means a lot to me. It has created some of my happiest memories and I love that it makes people happy and unites others.

July 4th, as I mentioned, also has a negative meaning to me. Last year, my family and I went to watch fireworks in our hometown. Halfway through the display a group of young white teens drove past our car and yelled both racial and islamophobic slurs at us. This incident ruined my family’s experience and we drove home about five minutes later. There behavior acutely reminded me that while July 4th is a holiday that was meant to bring joy, it is also a holiday that is reaped with racism and oppression. It is a holiday that wasn’t created for people like me, a Muslim American who lives in the midwest. Patriotism can be a beautiful thing but it has an ugly side that many people tend to ignore. Many people believe that America should be celebrated by “ True Americans” and that usually leads many people to be unfairly bigoted to those that don’t fit that very small and close-minded niche. This tye of patriotism makes people feel pressured to celebrate and do ‘typical American things’ on July 4th even if they don’t want to. Whenever people bring up the problem with July 4th they are accused of hating America and are told to “leave the country”. To truly celebrate all that America represents, we need to address these issues. As you celebrate Independence Day this July 4th, have fun but don’t engage in toxic behavior for the sake of the “True American Spirit”. Let’s make this an America where we all celebrate because we all belong.

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