ChildCare Education Institute Offers No-Cost Online Course on Service-learning for School-Age Children and Older Youth

Duluth, GA, May 01, 2018 -- ChildCare Education Institute® (CCEI), an online child care training provider dedicated exclusively to the early care and education workforce, offers SCH105: Service-learning for School-Age Children and Older Youth as a no-cost trial course to new CCEI users May 1-31, 2018.

According to the National Dropout Prevention Network, service−learning is a teaching and learning method that connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning, personal growth, and civic responsibility. It can be a powerful vehicle for youth engagement.  The following terms are sometimes confused with service−learning:

• Volunteerism – Perform service or good work without pay and of one’s own free will
• Community Service – Service to the community with no direct ties to learning
• Community Based Learning – Learning which takes place in the community with no formal service purpose
• Philanthropy – Act of donation (usually money, assets, or other goods) to support a charitable cause

All of the above are worthwhile pursuits for young people, but they are not synonymous with service−learning.  Service−learning is a two−part endeavor including both service and learning. Goals are essential in both “services” and “learning,” but for truly effective service−learning, both sides of the equation need to get equal treatment.

The Afterschool Alliance also reported the following results of service−learning, including both academic and social−emotional benefits:

Academic

• More than two thirds of students in a Flint, MI, service−learning program reported that their participation helped them understand what they were learning in school and improved their academic achievement.
• Michigan service−learning students in grades 7−12 reported more engagement and more effort in English/language arts classes than nonparticipants.
• Sixth grade service−learning participants in New Hampshire demonstrated significant gains in achievement scores on state assessments compared to their own performance before participating in service−learning.
• One study found that involvement in service can contribute to lessening the achievement gap, with low−income students who serve doing better academically than students who do not serve.

Social and Emotional

• In a study of sixth, seventh and eighth−graders, students with substantial hours of service−learning, including reflection and a high degree of motivation, significantly increased their self−concept concerning helping others and maintained their commitment to class work at a higher rate than those with less service−learning participation.
• A study of Wisconsin service−learning project participants found that middle school students reported lower rates of certain risk behaviors, higher levels of leadership and ability to resist danger, higher levels of positive peer influence, higher rates of homework and school engagement, higher interpersonal competence, and increased involvement in service to others.
• Compared to their peers, young adults who participated in K–12 service−learning were more likely to discuss politics or community issues and vote in an election year; more politically and socially connected to their communities, both as leaders and role models; and more active members of society.

This course provides in-depth study of the use of service-learning as an educational strategy designed to engage, motivate and increase knowledge, skills and civic involvement for school-age children and older youth.   Course participants will learn why service-learning is important in the school-age and out-of-school care environment, including the many ways in which service-learning complements the regular academic curriculum. This course will help teachers, coaches, mentors, and other program leaders find new ways to help youth get involved in community issues while applying academic knowledge and a wide range of skills.

“There is a substantial increase in service-learning programs across the country, which demands high-quality training for their teachers,” says Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO of CCEI.  “Service-learning is widely understood as an effective way to improve academic outcomes and promote positive youth interactions within the community; therefore, this course is designed to encourage more educators and program planners to incorporate well-planned service-learning projects across the curriculum.”

SCH105: Service-learning for School-Age Children and Older Youth is a two-hour, intermediate-level course and grants 0.2 IACET CEU upon successful completion. Current CCEI users with active, unlimited annual subscriptions can register for professional development courses at no additional cost when logged in to their CCEI account. Users without subscriptions can purchase child care training courses as block hours through CCEI online enrollment.

For more information, visit www.cceionline.edu or call 1.800.499.9907, prompt 3, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST

ChildCare Education Institute, LLC

ChildCare Education Institute® provides high-quality, distance education certificates and child care training programs in an array of child care settings, including preschool centers, family child care, prekindergarten classrooms, nanny care, online daycare training and more. Over 150 English and Spanish child care training courses are available online to meet licensing, recognition program, and Head Start Requirements. CCEI also has online certification programs that provide the coursework requirement for national credentials including the CDA, Director and Early Childhood Credentials.  CCEI, a Council for Professional Recognition CDA Gold Standard™ training provider, is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and is accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

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Ashley Sasher
ChildCare Education Institute
678-942-1531
[email protected]