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2019 Spring | Education & Outreach

Service-Learning and Teachers Goals, Can We Meet the Needs?

Student(s):

Saulyman Corr

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Kelly Frazee

Partner(s):

  • Sound Salmon Solutions

Faculty advisor(s):

Tim Billo, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

Restoration service-learning (RSL), a new way to engage students with their environment, provides hands-on learning which can help students engage deeper with science. But, because of its novelty, the quality of service-learning projects varies from each organization. Sound Salmon Solutions (SSS) is one organization that recently started an RSL class at Henry M. Jackson High School. But since the program’s creation, it hasn’t been reviewed to see how well it’s content aids teachers’ classroom goals. The purpose of my research was to assess how teachers perceive pros and cons of service-learning projects. I created a semi-structured online survey allowing teachers to share their thoughts and improvements for RSL use in their classrooms. I found that the amount of communication and planning between these groups seemed to be a large factor in whether a program met teacher’s needs. Furthermore, 80% of respondents would have liked RSL projects to tie to a certain set of standards, NGSS being the most common set chosen. Teachers also may want more time developing service-learning curriculum with 3rd party organizations, so they know how the lessons tie into their curriculum. If organizations begin to foster stronger communication with teachers, RSL programs can more accurately address educational goals.