Definition of Intergenerational Service Learning

"Service-Learning is where service and learning goals are of equal weight and importance. All parties are seen as learners and teachers as well as servers and served."

- From Sigmon's Linking Service with Teaching, 1995

Service-Learning is a method by which people learn and develop through active participation in thoughtfully-organized service experiences that:

• meet community needs;
• are coordinated in collaboration with college and community;
• are integrated into each student's academic curriculum;
• provide structured time for a person to think, talk, and write about what s/he did and saw during the actual service activity;
• provide people with opportunities to use newly acquired academic skills and knowledge in real life situations in their own communities;
• enhance what is taught in college by extending student learning beyond the classroom;
• help foster the development of a sense of caring for others.

Adapted from The Alliance for Service-Learning in Education Reform, May, 1993

"Meaningful service is not about doing good to someone; it is about the dignity and growth of the giver and receiver."

- Harry Silcox, Director of the Pennsylvania Institute for Environmental and Community Service-Learning

A brief description of our project

The K-State Center for Aging received a mini-grant to restructure its Seminar in Gerontology (GERON 600) course, which is a capstone course for the undergraduate Secondary Major in Gerontology curriculum. Restructuring the course to intergenerational service/learning is ongoing during the Spring 1998 semester. Using the theme of Successful Aging, with sub-themes of promoting and maintaining health, coping with loss, productive aging, and creativity/generativity, the course will progress through stages:

1. from whole-class activities to small group and individual activities;
2. from involvement with active elderly to more frail elderly; and
3. from learning about intergenerational service-learning to participating in intergenerational service-learning.

Campus and community resources will complement the course. A listserv discussion group will be used in conjunction with the current web site.

Project/Course Objectives

• Identify and use resources related to current issues in aging
• Discuss impacts of aging, emphasizing intergenerational issues, successful aging, productive aging, and creativity
• Understand principles of intergenerational service learning
• Carry out intergenerational service-learning activities and help lead intergenerational group discussions
• Make oral/written presentations about aging and service-learning experiences

Important Dates and Information

Refer to the syllabus.

Class Projects

• Getting to Know You: An Afternoon in Norway

Educational Institutions

Kansas State University is one of 10 educational institutions selected for this project. Other institutions include:

• Arizona State University
• Clemson University
• Richard Stockton College
• Community College of Denver
• San Francisco State University
• Lourdes College
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute
• Oswego State University of New York
• Worcester State College

Related Intergenerational Links

• National Society for Experiential Education
• American Association of Community Colleges