Service Learning in a Social Studies Methods Course: Experience and Place-Based Curriculum

Abstract

When an instructor reframed the social studies methods course to include a service-learning project, both education certification students and a museum's outreach program benefited. University students gained practical teaching experience leading a children's summer class about local prairie dogs, and the museum gained quality teachers. Enthusiastic responses promoted future partnerships between the university and the museum. Project evaluation addressed the role of field experiences in teacher preparation, museum education partnerships, service-learning pedagogy, and place-based curriculum content.

Acknowledgments

Reese H. Todd is an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University and teaches social studies in the College of Education. Previous experiences in K–8 schools in Oklahoma inform her research on preservice teacher education, service-learning, geography education, and community studies.

Stephanie Gray Brinkman is the former Educational Consultant of the National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, Texas. Her interests include museum education, Texas history, community outreach, and collaborations with other educators.

Notes

Cooper, S., and S. Nesmith. 2006. Methods of integrating field experiences within math methodology courses for EC-4 pre-service teachers. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Teacher Educators, February 18–20, Atlanta, GA.

Crawford, A. 1999. Understanding visitors and building connections: Learning theories for living history museums. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums, June 1–5, Kansas City, MO.