We are pleased to introduce you to our newest project about Service Learning. The SLIPS or “Service Learning In Primary Schools” project aims to build upon the positive impact. Building on the previous SLUSIK project, which addressed service learning in secondary education, the SLIPS project seeks to bring the benefits of service learning, particularly regarding social inclusion and civic participation, into collaboration between primary schools, experts and academics as well as the voluntary sector. The Service Learning in Primary Schools initiative will directly contribute to the acquisition of skills among primary school teachers that will enable them to engage with primary school pupils in innovative ways and build sustainable partnerships with volunteering organisations.
Overall, the partnership aims to instill civic competencies among primary school children, promoting understanding, knowledge, and a sense of responsibility and ownership of both the fundamental values and rights across Europe and within local communities that will stay with them through their whole life trajectory acting as a catalyst for life-long and life-wide learning in a socially aware manner.
Assisting in enriching children’s experience by contributing to helping and supporting others helps them develop civic responsibility and strengthen communities. Exposing children to this advanced educational approach has a huge range of benefits. Service learning can develop children’s ability to work constructively with others, encourage them to become better leaders, build communication skills, offer the chance to improve their problem-solving skills, build up personal identity, moral development and intercultural understanding, and improve social responsibility and citizenship skills.
An interview with Cathryn Berger Kaye showcased the insights of this pioneering Service Learning expert. Through this interview, Cathryn revealed the successes, failures, less effective approaches, opportunities, advice and more. With over 40 years of practice, Cathryn shared her experience when implementing SL. She emphasises that when implementing SL it is key to look into the resources that exist within the community, scan the different skills community members have, and how they can complement one another. Also, Cathryn states the “element of chaos” as being almost certain when implementing SL. This educational approach resists the elements of structure and order, being full of elements of surprise.
The project aims to tackle issues related to a lack of capacity among primary school teachers, raising their skills and knowledge, and equipping them with innovative methods of learning delivery. In this sense, the SLIPS initiative is highly relevant for the European Year of Skills, in particular addressing the priorities of “inclusive training and upskilling” and addressing future labour market needs.
Within the scope of the SLIPS project, we aim to establish a shared understanding of SL, adapting the educational approach for younger students and various school environments, while considering cultural and legal factors for cross-border cooperation.
The materials that are currently being developed in WP2 (Project preparation and research – Common Ground) in conjunction with WP3 (Development of the Service Learning Programme), will blossom Service-Learning programs in primary schools. This will include a curriculum and training materials with input from educational institutions and civil society, available in multiple languages, and evaluated through surveys and interviews.
All resources will be on the SLIPS online platform for wider access and sustainability.
WP4 (Teacher training for the Service Learning Programme), will be dedicated to teacher training, refined by pilot feedback, aiming to engage 600 teachers, 150 school leaders, and 90 policymakers across 75 schools in 6 countries. Each country involved in the SLIPS project will host an online session to promote the project.
WP5 (Dissemination and Sustainability) will be focused on impact and sustainability and will run throughout the entire project, sharing materials and outputs via a strong dissemination strategy.
We hope that you will join us on our SLIPS journey to learn more about Service Learning in European primary schools and get inspired by our activities and results.