The service learning project for us was somewhat of a unique challenge when it came time to be ‘hands on’. We are advocates for a cleaner, healthier environment by promoting sustainable energy means that are safer and more environmentally friendly. However, feeling as though we are making an impact on our issue is difficult. We had to scrap many of our service learning project ideas that seemed like tangible ways to really take a stand: throw rocks at the power plant (potential legal risks), graffiti power plant (environmentally hypocritical), an organized sit-in (there’s only three of us…and no one wants to sit in there…). So, we had to be smart about the way we participated in our project. First, we got all the facts. We gathered information, the political, environmental, and economic ins and outs of the local and not-so-local power plants that threaten our livelihood. We focused on the Salem Power Plant and learned how much effort and action it took to finally implement stricter regulations and a transitional shut-down plan. We came to identify and understand the value of the pattern: cause for concern, spreading the information, demanding a change, and achieving an alternative solution. Seeing as we can’t make up the laws ourselves and just three people cannot go against any power plant company, we decided the best way to carry out our service learning project was to spread word and become a small, but active, part of a big push toward change. Organizations, such as HealthLink and the Environmental League of Massachusetts host clean ups and other service opportunities, but agreed that our best method of action was spreading the word. In addition to signing the petition mentioned in our previous post, we took it upon ourselves to use today’s popular social networking forums to our advantage and to target our local and relevant audience around campus and in the Salem area. Through our Facebook page and relentless hanging of fliers, awareness will be raised on our issue.
Knowledge will spread. Motivation toward change will spark. Alternative solutions will follow.
Here are some links that were relevant during our service learning project. Also, don’t forget the links available along the side panel of our blog, as well!
Thank you to everyone for keeping up with our research and hard word. We hope you use the information to earth’s advantage…
Read on to hear our reflections…
Kyle -
For our service learning project we took a multi-faceted approach towards spreading information. With our cause, Nuclear Power and Pollution, we decided to spread the word using the most powerful outlets we could think of: First, we talked with The Conservation Law Foundation, a New England-based environment advocacy group. They also suggested that the best way we can help is to spread the information. So with their guidance, our group also decided to add a Facebook page as well as reach out to local students at Salem State University and the city of Salem. We posted fliers in downtown Salem where our blog and Facebook address could be accessed. We talked with local residents as well as students when posting fliers. With this approach, we are hopeful that people who want to know more about the subject can assess our various social networks we have been working on.
I truly believe our service learning project did have an impact on the greater good for a few reasons. The most effective mechanism we used was word-of-mouth. The more people have access to information about nuclear power, the more apt they will be to take a stance, or at least be informed on the subject. By specifically targeting Salem residents and SSU students, our subject, purpose, and stance on nuclear power is relevant because Salem is contains a nuclear power plant.
If given the opportunity, I would like to participate in a service learning project like this again. I think there is something to be proud of when awareness can be brought to people, especially when you have group members as passionate about nuclear power and a need to seek alternate energy sources in the future. A service learning project is a valuable thing to teach students in the future because it allows students a chance to be responsible citizens and discover more about a subject that effects them in some way. It requires research into that subject and to take a stand on the issue and advocate for the side you believe in. These are skills that remain valuable for a lifetime because people have the liberty to agree or disagree with policies in our country. A service learning project is a small, yet important example of just that. I had a great time working with my partners on this project and I feel satisfied that we all made an effort we can be proud of.
Ashley -
Generally, when an assignment such as this one comes along and we are allowed to choose our own topic, I am likely to select issues related to the food industry or nutritional concerns. With that said, I was pleasantly surprised to find that taking on something a little different this time ended up being so interesting and fulfilling. I enjoyed doing the research around this issue. I found that I had an initial stance of wanting healthier sustainable energy sources, but with further investigation, I had more of a profound understanding and confirmation as to why I should have that stance and how deeper rooted concern for the issue. The facts were overwhelming and how relevant this issue is to our local area is alarming. I think that learning about the topic and even informing our peers about the controversial issue was easier than actually cracking down and putting action into our cause. I feel like our topic exemplified the saying ‘easier said than done’ because we know why the current status of power plants is harmful and we know we want alternative solutions for that energy, but transforming that into a reality proved difficult. So, as three college kids often do, we turned to our computers and our smart phones and started talking. We created a Facebook page and got people to ‘Like’ what we don’t like about the power plant situation. We hung fliers around campus and created visual disruption that will hopefully get people to think and take action themselves. It’s hard to make a bold statement that we did something really amazing for the greater good. However, if I have learned anything in social studies throughout my years of school it is that social change starts small. Our little group is a small part of a larger movement. It is our civic duty to work together to promote the change we believe will be better for our society. In terms of teaching, I think a service learning project is valuable learning strategy for students. It gives them a sense of capability and instills the importance of both living and learning to full potential in order to obtain the highest quality of life. A service learning project incorporates many of the integral concepts that are the foundation of social studies, including cooperation toward social change. I would want my students to understand what was confirmed for me during this assignment: no issue is too big to challenge and no action is too small to make a difference.
Brad -
For our service learning project we took a multi-faceted approach towards spreading information. With our cause, Nuclear Power and Pollution, it was very difficult to do a hands on approach with this topic, so we, as a group concluded that we should spread the most powerful tool we can. Information. We talked with Conservation Law Foundation, which is New England environment advocacy group. They also suggested that the best way we can help is to spread the information. We also created a facebook page, which we have been updating with links to our blog, helpful and informative sites, and weekly posts on various topics that center around the Nuclear Power and Pollution crisis in our area. We decided to reach the largest audience, we must physically get the word out there. We created a flier, with basic information about nuclear power and pollution, and the web addresses for our blog and the Conservation Law Foundation. I encouraged many people I talked to do research on their own, and that this company and ur group were great springboards to help if they truly became interested and motivated. I personally did not try to sway anyone into my opinion, but instead I wanted them to be able to make an educated decision for themselves. I wanted to give people the power to do this. We passed many of these fliers out locally, in the greater Salem area. This was a wonderful place to start with the ever looming image of the power plant as a stark reminder in the backdrop.
I truly believe the greatest immediate impact this had on the greater good is the power of knowledge. The more people become informed, the more they believe for or against a cause. Hopefully in time, with more people becoming educated and involved through any number of outreach groups, true change will come. In the end, only time will tell.
I would like to do something like this again. I truly enjoyed learning about how people saw and felt about nuclear power and pollution. If I were to do this again, I would shy away from the blog and spend more time in a hands on role. The blog was an excellent medium for our group as information was greatest tool and ally we had, but I enjoyed being outside and doing something, and I would like to again. As a future educator, I would like to get students involved into a whole class service learning project. We would have to take a different approach with fourth grade students, but the rewards would go beyond measure. It would potentially help the local area, and build a true sense of classroom community with all of the students working together towards an overarching goal.
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