Before the start of a service-learning project, ideally during the first week of class, students should be given an orientation to community-based learning, the project, and the organization with which they will be working. This does not have to be an elaborate or time-consuming, however, the following points should be included in the orientation:
- The definition and purpose of community-based learning as a pedagogy
- The purpose of their specific community-based learning project in relation to the class
- The criteria upon which they will be graded and other project logistics
- Expected behavior while working in/with the community
- Brief history of the community group or organization
- The needs of the people in the community which the organization serves\
- The significance of this project to the organization
- Issues of confidentiality
- Culturally significant behaviors to be prepared for (for example, a class working with the local food shelf should be aware of the stereotypes they hold about “poor” people)
Training in the following would also be beneficial:
- Cultural and language sensitivity
- An understanding of an asset-based approach to community work
- Acting as ambassadors of the university
- Anti-oppression training