NYLC toolboxes give you instant access to the best resources on hot topics.
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery
Service-learning can tap the power of young people as a
sustainable, effective force for disaster preparedness and recovery. This
toolbox is home to a growing body of articles and project examples (and soon
curricula) to help young people prepare their communities for the foreseen and
rebuild their communities after disasters.
Diversity
Effective service-learning values diversity in its
participants, practice, and outcomes. Understanding diversity and its impact on
service-learning is critical for effective practice. This toolbox includes
project examples, articles, and links to help you better understand the
challenges and opportunities associated with diversity, and approaches for
improving diversity in service-learning programs.
Dropout Prevention
Research has consistently demonstrated that students who participate in service-learning are more engaged in school, and new findings have shown that students who are engaged are more likely to stay in school and more likely to graduate from high school. This toolbox includes links, resources, and research on service-learning's ability to keep young people in school until graduation.
Getting Started
Effective service-learning requires knowledgeable, trained
practitioners and carefully designed programs. We've collected some
useful articles and tools for beginning practitioners. We also
recommend a short one- to two-day training for those new to
service-learning.
HIV/AIDS
Service-learning
is an excellent tool for HIV and AIDS education. Not only does it
mobilize youths as a force in fighting the pandemic, but research shows
that youths are more receptive to HIV prevention messages that come
from their peers. Effective projects can take place in schools and
community-based organizations. Here are some project ideas, articles,
and links to get you started.
Integrating Service-Learning into the Curriculum
Effective service-learning is always tied to specific learning goals. This not only helps students meet genuine community needs through their service but also improves student academic outcomes and addresses state and federal education standards that schools are required to meet. The resources in this toolbox help teachers and other practitioners better integrate service-learning programs with curricula.
Making the Case
Practitioners see the results of service-learning first
hand, but that's often not enough. Policy-makers, administrators, and parents
want and deserve proof that service-learning is an effective learning and
community development model. Here, we've gathered key resource to help you
"make the case" for service-learning.
Standards for Effective Service-Learning Practice
Service-learning organizations and practitioners have been working together for more than a decade to develop standards of effective practice for Pre-K-12 service-learning. Discover what decades of educational research and the experience of seasoned service-learning practitioners and participants have come to understand about what attributes of service-learning best foster academic, civic, and social gains for students.
Youth Leadership
Young people are powerful contributors to society,
but too often adults don’t seek or hear their voices. Fostering youth
leadership requires a number of skills and tactics, from assessing adult
attitudes toward youths and encouraging youth ownership of service-learning
projects to team-building games and reflection exercises.
