UniSIM Service-Learning Seminar Series With Dr Robert Shumer | Singapore University of Social Sciences

On 6 October 2016, UniSIM College hosted Dr Robert D. Shumer, Founding Director of the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, University of Minnesota, and also a distinguished member of our UniSIM Service-Learning Resource Panel.

Dr Shumer delivered a workshop on the topic of "Service-Learning collaborations: How do we know if Service-Learning is effective?" to a diverse group of 60 staff of community organisations, youth delivery policy actors, educators, as well as faculty and staff.

The session began with the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of Service-Learning, then progressed to an engaging narrative where Dr Shumer creatively connected various ideas of Service-Learning in an easily understandable and relatable manner. For instance, Dr Shumer cited the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, and how his teachings are similar to that in Service-Learning. Participants could thus better relate to the concept of Service-Learning as something not foreign, but actually having always existed in various forms and being much closer to us than we see it to be.

The next half of the workshop consisted of group discussions facilitated by Dr Shumer, with participants made to think deeper into issues pertaining to Service-Learning in the context of Singapore.

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_{Dr Shumer addressing the audience on issues in Service-Learning.}

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_{Dr Shumer in an engaging conversation with participants of the UniSIM Service-Learning Seminar Series.}

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_{Dr Shumer with UniSIM Service-Learning student leaders and staff on a project site visit to community partner,
Lakeside Family Services.}