Learning through good deeds: Kassel record with novel study concept

Portraying a skater hall in a web video, planning a therapy garden for a retirement home, taking on a sponsorship for a disadvantaged child or developing measures for a climate-neutral Hessentag - these and more than 20 similarly meaningful projects will be tackled by students at the University of Kassel in the coming summer semester. All activities are part of so-called "service learning" seminars, i.e. project seminars that link theoretical learning with commitment to the common good. Students do not receive credit points for their good deeds, but rather for the knowledge and practical experience relevant to their careers that they acquire in the process - but learning can also be achieved by doing something meaningful for the community. The idea came from the USA, and in 2011 the University of Kassel took it up.

Since then, the university has been in the process of expanding its offering of such seminars - and will be setting two records in the coming semester. First, with 25 courses in the 2013 summer semester, it is now the most active service-learning university in Germany, to the university's knowledge. Second, about 300 students are expected to participate in the summer semester, more than ever before. Two-thirds of the departments are participating with courses. "At other universities, the AStA often has to fight for service learning first. Here in Kassel, university management and many teachers are convinced of the method on their own initiative," explains Imke-Marie Badur, interdepartmental coordinator for Service Learning.

A new addition to the program, for example, is a seminar in German Studies: Here, students will deal with press and public relations work and support smaller social associations with appealing texts for flyers and press releases. The interest of the associations in this service is great: Twelve applications have been received, so the students get to choose. The web video seminar, a key skills seminar for all departments in which students acquire film practice and dramaturgical skills by portraying social initiatives, is similarly coveted by the cooperation partners.

For the first time, a seminar has been announced in the teaching degree program that also deals theoretically with the didactic method "Service Learning" or "Learning through Engagement". In the practical part, the students will take stock of the extent to which service learning is already being practiced in Kassel schools. In the winter semester, concrete teaching concepts will then be developed for interested schools.

But application-oriented research is not neglected either: In the seminar "Evaluation in Social Work," for example, students will determine the needs of young people suffering from dementia for a counseling center. Others conduct research for museums or on socio-political issues.

Current courses with service learning: www.uni-kassel.de/go/service-learning

Coordination office for service learning: www.unikasseltransfer/service-learning

Info

Imke-Marie Badur
University of Kassel
Coordination Office for Service Learning at UniKasselTransfer

Tel.: 0561/804-7469
E-mail: badur[at]uni-kassel[dot]de