IS 201.  Guidelines for Library, Archives or Information Service Learning

DESCRIPTION:

Individually or in a team, IS 201 students will use their knowledge, and academic and professional resources to develop and conduct a library, archives or information service-learning activity/project. The individual/team will meet with project site staff, discuss and settle on the service learning to be conducted, determine how to carry out the activity/project, and implement it.  The individual/team will spend 20 hours/student engaged in the service-learning activity/project.  During the process students will write their reflections on their service-learning experience in their individual journals.  Throughout the course students will discuss their service experiences (feelings, critical incidents, insights gained, responsibilities, new skills, and accomplishments) in class as discussion leaders or participants.  The project site contact/coordinator will provide feedback to the instructor.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES:

Students:

Working individually or in teams, students will select a real-life organization for which they will develop and implement a library, archives or information service activity/project.  For teams, the members will be responsible for delegating tasks and duties among its own members.  As appropriate to facilitate the communication process for teams, one student may be designated the contact person.  The entire team (or individual) will meet with the class instructor or reader at least once during the quarter, and will also be responsible for orally presenting on their service learning experience in class.  The service learning will not be graded but full commitment, class presentation and participation, and a problem-solving approach are expected.  Each student will:

1. After site selection and sign-up, familiarize yourself with the organization (mission, goals, organizational structure, etc.) through its literature and/or website prior to contacting the organization.

2. Communicate with site supervisor what you would like to learn, your course requirements, your backgrounds and your career goals.

3. Observe the work of the organization and discuss with other staff persons their roles and responsibilities, and the organization’s mission.

4. Gain an understanding of the user/client community and your service leaning work in relation to their information needs.

5. With the assistance of your project supervisor, track your 20 hours of service learning using the timesheet.

6. Problem solve as an individual/student team, communicate any unresolved issues with instructor or project supervisor, as appropriate

7. Describe your experiences (ethical issues, feelings, critical incidents, insights gained, responsibilities, new skills, and accomplishments) in your journal, as appropriate.

8. As discussion leader and participant, share your service learning experiences in class.

Instructor and Readers:

Instructor: Clara M. Chu, e-mail: cchu @ ucla.edu.
Reader (2009): Patrick Keitly, e-mail: pkeilty @ gmail.com

The instructor and readers will facilitate the students' work, providing skills, knowledge, advice, and resources as needed to complete the project.  The instructor or readers will meet with each team at least once during the quarter.  The instructor and readers also available to consult with project site staff as needed.

Project site:

At the first meeting with student(s) the project site contact, supervisor and/or staff will describe the orgnanization and its user community, learn about the students’ interests and skills, discuss the potential service learning activity(ies)/project(s), and approve the project/activities that the student(s) will undertake.  Project site staff will provide the student(s) with whatever data, space and access to targeted activity/project clients that might be needed for the project.  They will also facilitate the students learning how their work helps the diverse and/or underserved user/client community and understanding the information needs of the user/client community.

Instructor or readers should be contacted should there be any questions.  Supervisor will sign the student’s service learning timesheet or e-mail the student a confirmation of his/her hours.  At the completion of the service-learning experience, the project site contact/coordinator will provide feedback to the teams by completing and returning to the instructor the evaluation form.  E-mail: cchu @ ucla.edu, phone: (310) 206-9368, fax (310) 206-4460, address: UCLA Dept. of Information Studies, 210 GSE&IS Bldg., Box 951520, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1520.

PROJECTED TIMELINE (2009):

Week 1            Mar 31 - First class.  Student teams select service-learning site.

Students begin to contact service-learning site and arrange for a meeting time.  Service learning begins and continues through week 8, as appropriate.  Sharing of experiences with service learning takes place week 2 through week 7.

Week 3            Apr 16 - NO CLASS.  Students may select to do service learning on this day.

Week 6            May 5 - NO CLASS.  Students may select to do service learning on this day.

Weeks 7-9      May – Due: Journal (related to service learning and ethical issues), including completed timesheet

Week 10         June 6 - Project site returns evaluation form to instructor.

Weeks 2-7      Student class discussions related to service learning.