We've FLIPPED for our new school!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Service Learning

What is service learning and why will it be an important component of the NEW Saline Alternative?

This question has been posed by several students, parents and faculty and in this blog, I'll give my attempt at a succinct response.

Cathryn Berger Kaye offers a definition of service learning in her book,
A Complete Guide to Service Learning: Proven, Practical Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum, and Social Action. "...service learning can be defined as a research-based teaching method where guided or classroom learning is applied through action that addresses an authentic community need in a process that allows for youth initiative and provides structured time for reflection on the service experience and demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge." Service learning - for the NEW Saline Alternative, will combine classroom learning with authentic application that meets a need within the community.

That said, service learning differs from volunteer work in that the advancement of academic skills is at its core. Students learn that their academic skills can be applied in community settings. They cement fledgling skills in an environment that is outside the walls of a school building. Students apply academic and personal skills to improve the community. The result is that both students and communities benefit.

To begin the 2010-2011 school year, staff members will guide students through the process of defining "community" and "service learning" and what that means for each student. For some, "community" may mean the school campus or the greater school student population. For others, "community" may mean the greater Saline area including local businesses, parks and agencies. And for a few, "community" is defined globally and may include connecting with a political campaign, national disaster, international charity organizations such as UNICEF, or The American Red Cross. Service Learning is individualized, and what that means for for each student at the NEW Saline Alternative will have more clarity as the year progresses.

Service Learning is a critical component of the instructional programming at the NEW Saline Alternative High School. The aim is to give students a renewed interest in school and a true sense of purpose.

The opportunities are boundless. With a dedicated staff and a redefined structure and format, the NEW Saline Alternative High School is poised to provide programming for students that will ensure academic rigor and transitional success through service learning.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Beginnings

I'm often asked what defines an alternative high school. What type of student attends such a school? There are no clear definitions, yet one that broadly defines the New Saline Alternative is this: a learner-centered, ad-hoc assembly of students and instructional staff that are in some way dissatisfied with the mainstream, traditional high school education.' Stereotypical concepts of the alternative model bring to mind thoughts of disengaged youth; those who have dropped out of the traditional high school and for some, dropped out of life.

My vision of the alternative high school is one where students are very engaged in their learning. So engaged in fact, that for most, they define what individual path they will choose that will culminate in a high school diploma. The alternative path allows students to explore career paths while practicing newly acquired academic skills.

Flexibility is critical, as is an individualized learning plan, ample adult coaching and on-site opportunities to develop and practice employability skills that are readily transferrable into the work place or into the post-secondary setting. Helping students to realize their unique gifts and how those talents can be transformed into "what comes next" is the essence of the alternative high school.

The flexibility mentioned above offers the alternative student the opportunity to progress through the requisite Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements in as accelerated or remediated a pace as necessary. There are no pre-requisites for any coursework; students may elect as few or as many classes as desired during each designated marking period. As a result, a student may elect a marking period of off-site service learning as an extension of his/her educational development plan. A second marking period might be all classroom-based instruction and a third, a combination of the two.

The alternative high school provides a flexible path to a high school education where students can feel safe to explore a potential career or academic interest without fear of ridicule, judgment or criticism. While students will be held to a new standard for attendance and academic accountability, the New Saline Alternative will put requisite supports in place to allow each student to explore a personal passion while earning credits toward a high school diploma.