Syllabus*

Bio 297AA or AB or AC     Volunteerism for Biology:

A Service Learning Experience

  Peter S. Brown, Instructor.  Office in Nursing building, room 181

Telephone & message: 480-461-7034

E-mail :   brown@mail.mc.maricopa.edu

Office hours by appointment

 Course Description   Service-learning field experience within private/public agencies, and citizen volunteer groups. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

 Service-Learning Core Components.

Activities checklist

______1. Initial meeting with biology faculty instructor. Complete Service Learning Agreement including “Service and Learning Objectives”.  This is found in the “Enrollment Packet for Students” and can be found on-line at:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/services/servicelearning/

______2. Complete fifty (50) clock contact hours in the agency per credit hour.  Keep your log sheet in your “Enrollment Packet” to track your contact hours.

______3. Keep a reflective journal of daily activities to demonstrate a variety of experiences. 

______4. Attend and participate in group reflection sessions to share experiences with other service-learning participants  (1 per credit hour).  These are arranged by the Center for Service Learning in the Kirk center and the schedule can be viewed online at:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/services/servicelearning/rsschedule.html

______5.  Have your work supervisor complete a written evaluation of your Service (after at least 25 contact hours) and have them call me at 480-461-7034 (See last page of “Enrollment Packet")

______6.  Complete your contact hours.  Turn in:

    a. Final analytical paper (2-3 pages per credit hour)

    b. Journal

    c. "Student Evaluation form of Service Learning Experience"**

______7. Meet with biology faculty instructor.

*Thanks to Duane Oakes for his help with this syllabus.

**This form can be picked up at the Center for Service Learning in the Kirk Center

Course overview

You receive credit for what you are learning, by virtue of your service, not for what you are doing per se.  This means that you simply need to keep me informed on what you are doing and learning.  It is especially important to contact me if you are having problems with your service learning site.  I have had students in the past who have changed sites or changed positions within the same site and their experience has improved considerably.

General Policies

Attendance/Withdrawals: Regular participation at your service site and group reflections are necessary for you to compete this class.  Excessive absences and non-participation at service site will result in your withdrawal from the class. Students bear the responsibility of notifying the office of admissions and records when they discontinue studies in a course or at the college. Failure to file an official withdrawal form may result in a failing grade.

 Assignments and Grades : You will be graded on the following:

Grading

Points-Grade

90-100=A

80-89=B

70-79=C

60-69=D

59 or less=F