Service-learning pedagogy (or community engaged pedagogy) is an innovative approach which integrates community service or engagement into the curriculum, gains a deeper understanding of the curricular content and provides opportunities for critical reflection. It includes achieving educational goals through tackling real-life problems in the community, fosters a sense of civic engagement and responsibility, promotes inclusion, integration etc.
This pedagogy brings together students, teachers and the community whereby all become teaching resources, problem solvers and partners.
Who is this course for?
The course has been tailored for teachers dealing with various challenges, such as classroom diversity etc. It is aimed at teachers, social workers and others who are searching for innovative approaches to combine the curricular content with various projects that boost civic engagement in students, help them take initiative to strengthen their community, increase their active role, engage every individual in well-defined tasks etc.
Why choose this course?
This course is a great choice for teachers who want to:
- become familiar with service learning as a new teching method and pedagogical concept to improve students’ ability to apply what they have learned in “the real world”, reduce stereotypes, foster integration, improve social responsibility and citizenship skills;
- get first hand examples of how to design and run a service-learning project to meet the educational challenges of today;
- get resources and networks to move forward in their school or institution.
Thoughts from our past participants and some impressions
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Provisional timetable
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT | SUN | |
| Morning | Arrival | Session 1 | Session 3 | Session 4 | Session 5 | Session 6 | A |
| Afternoon | Welcome | Session 2 | Visit to Ljubljana | Optional modules | Free | Sharing best practice event | day |
| Evening | Free | International evening | Slovenian evening | Activities evening | Free | Reflection evening | trip |
Working sessions
SESSION 1:
Introduction to the Course
(Getting to know each other, detecting the needs arising from our particular situation, needs and school vision)
SESSION 2:
Comprehensive, Inclusive and Quality Education and What is Service-Learning?
(Presentation of the pedagogical context, its origins and variations throughout the world. Examples of successful projects and initiatives. Brief analysis of the purpose and dynamics of the method.)
SESSION 3:
Solidarity-Based Service Aimed at Meeting Real Needs of the Community and the Active Role of Students in Project Design, Implementation and Evaluation
(Importance of the local community for the success of the school and students. Ways of approaching the community, establishing contacts and relationships. Examples of possible cooperations, project planning step-by-step)
SESSION 4:
Risks and Integration of Marginal Groups
(How to detect risks, how to react to them. Strategies to integrate marginal groups into your projects. Presentation of good practice examples: Youth Centre, Young Caritas etc.)
SESSION 5:
How to Evaluate Service Learning Projects
(Evaluation excercises. Constructing a personal real-life challenge for your environment. Becoming aware of your strengths and weaknesses)
SESSION 6:
What to Do Next?
(Planing next steps that should be taken by each participant individually. What are my objectives for the next year)
The team
Tadej Rifel received his PhD in Philosophy from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Now, he is a secondary school teacher, involved in various projects with his students (active citizenship, finances, entrepreneurship, the European Union, project work). In addition, he co-developed a training course on holistic education and regularly gives lectures and workshops for teachers.
Nataša Hanuna is a guidance and career counsellor. In one-to-one sessions and group activities, she helps students set their goals, achieve greater self-awareness, develop their life skills and work direction, detect their talents and abilities. In addition, she regularly gives teacher training courses (career guidance, communication teachers vs. parents, mediation), and works with migrant children and volunteers. Her previous working experience includes leading a youth centre for more than 10 years.
What is included in the seminar package?
- course contents and materials
- additional optional modules and a sharing best practice event
- coffee and other refreshments throughout the course
- full board accommodation
- rich social programme
- a series of networking opportunities
For more information, see other sections of the webiste.
One last summary
- 6 intensive working sessions in a smaller group
- approachable and hands-on teacher trainers
- 2 optional modules to personalise your course
- many opportunities for networking and exchange of good practice
- rich social programme
- full board accommodation
Everything in the price of €1,300.
A chance to get an Erasmus+ grant of around €2,000.