Service Learning

What is Service Learning in MYP?

Service learning is an important component of the MYP Program. Experiences both during class and outside of school are appropriate in the MYP. The goal is for students to understand their capacity to make a meaningful contribution to their community and society. Through service learning, students develop and apply academic knowledge, personal skills and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem-solving, initiative, responsibility and accountability for their actions.

East Nashville Magnet MYP students will engage in Service Learning during their MYP careers. Each grade level has its own unique set of requirements. The goal is for a student to escalate his/her involvement in service activities gradually over the years of the Middle Years Programme. Students can choose to involve themselves in activities in school or out of school (as long as they meet the internal requirements as described below).

All 8th graders at East complete a Community Project that begins with their group identifying an authentic community need and proposing action to address it. Students undertake the action, reflect on its success, and share their projects at a public exhibition.

What Are The Requirements For Each Year?

Grade 6
  • 2 Activities
  • 2 Learning Outcomes
  • 1 Reflection
Grade 7
  • 3 Activities
  • 4 Learning Outcomes
  • 2 Reflections
Grade 8
  • Community Project

What Are The Learning Outcomes?

  1. Awareness of your strengths and developing weaknesses
  2. Developing international-mindedness and global understandings
  3. Learning Perseverance over challenges
  4. Collaborating with others
  5. Contemplating an ethical issue
  6. Taking initiative
  7. Learning new skills

Activities That Qualify Are:

  • Activities that build authentic connections between classroom learning and community needs
  • Activities that serve an educational institution and are not tied to a grade or other compensation
  • Activities for non-profit organizations
  • Activities that serve an individual in need who cannot otherwise provide for him/herself

Activities That Do Not Qualify Are:

  • Activities for school sports and clubs, with the exception of service clubs
  • Religious activities involving education, evangelism, or worship
  • Activities for organizations that are not identified as non-profit, unless the activity is education related
  • Services that directly benefit a member of your family
  • Court ordered service to the community

Reflections

Students will express their learning by reflecting on their experience in their undertaken activities during the year. During reflection, students should identify and discuss the Learning Outcomes that occurred during the experience. The format of the reflection should be chosen by the student. East Nashville Magnet will host “reflection days” during PLT classes where students are invited to reflect and discuss their learning. On a Reflection Day, PLT classes will host student discussions, provide reflection templates and guiding questions, and recognize and celebrate student service experiences.

Students are encouraged to reflect in any way comfortable to them. A good reflection will:

  • Be authentic to the student and the experience
  • Discuss the Learning Outcomes explicitly (i.e. use the language of the outcome)
  • Be appropriate in length for the grade level and to fully express authentic learning