NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING RURAL ONLINE NETWORK OVERVIEW

Sponsored by ESD112-Service Learning Northwest through
   funding provided by Learn and Serve America
Facilitators:  Chris Burt /Larry Fletch / Rich Parker / Susie Richards

The National Service-Learning Rural Network

Description and Overview: The National Service-Learning Rural Network supports service-learning practitioners who live in isolated, rural communities through an interactive online community. This facilitated, online community provides network participants with an opportunity to share ideas, experiences and resources related to the field of service-learning and civic engagement.

The goal of the network is to develop a collaborative community of practice. Ongoing interactive communication and relationship building serve as the determining factors of success. Participants become fluent in the use of school/community linkage strategies, including collaborative program design and grant writing partnerships.

The National Service-Learning Rural Network Outcomes:

• Creating learning opportunities which foster increased student achievement, engagement and ownership of the learning process.
  
• Encouraging students and community members to become effective agents of change as they identify and impact authentic needs within their community
  
• Supporting organizational changes and school reform efforts leading to strengthened schools and communities

Proposed Timeline: 

3/06:  development of site and courses
5/06:  launch of site – outreach and marketing of courses/sites
6/06 – 8/06:  courses will run and site will be maintained and facilitated on an ongoing basis through funding cycle

The online network will include:

• Rural Service-Learning Peer Mentors:
  A network of rural service-learning peer mentors will be available to provide online, phone and potential video conference support.

• Guest Speakers: 
  Nationally recognized experts in the field will interact with community members in a topic based dialogue format.

• Online Resource Center: 
  An area where multimedia files, training resources, collections of lesson plans and curriculum materials can be accessed and shared. Also included will be an interactive guide of best practices for rural service-learning practitioners. 

• Online Book Club:
  Monthly or bi-monthly books will be chosen to be read and a facilitated online dialogue based on issues relevant to rural s-l practitioners will occur.

• Open Conversation Areas:
  Open to those accessing the online network to create their own conversation topic areas. Online survey to provide input on needs of rural service-learning practitioners will be included.

• Credit/Professional Development online course:
  Facilitated online professional development credit bearing courses will be offered through the network and The Heritage Institute/Antioch University.  The first course (in the eventual series of courses) will be “Service-Learning in Rural Communities” which will support participants in the development and implementation of high quality service-learning practice. This online course will be available for 5 credits, at a cost of $172.00.

FOR MORE INFORMATION    http://www.swcec.com/ron/