Corey Dolgon, Stonehill College on his book "Social Problems: A Service Learning Approach"

1. Social Problems: A Service Learning ApproachCorey Dolgon, Stonehill CollegeChris Baker, Walters State Community College

4. What do students learn? *Litany of why the world sucks * *How to connect what is to why it is? [power and causation] *How theory helps us analyze the politics of these problems what they rarely learn? what can and are people doing about these problems, in particular people just like themselves—students!

6. Most include weekly assignments and some kind of focus paper on one particular problem.

7. Some add a historical approach to evolution of issues.

8. All involve students seeing how “the world makes them!”

10. 2 Introductory Chapters One: How Sociologists Define, Study and Act on Social Problems— Introduces a “social problems” focused history of sociology, Explains how sociologists have defined social problems, Examines how sociologists use the discipline to challenge and address social problems Concludes with a look at Service Learning as an action-based pedagogy linking learning about social problems to experience working to solve them. Two: Basic Theories & Concepts— This chapter looks at how sociologists use theory and concepts to examine social problems Theories such as Conflict and Social Interaction as well as concepts like values, norms and institutions all defined and described through service learning and action-based case studies.

12. Historical SectionsSome books discuss the historical causes of particular social problems, but we look explicitly at the historical evolution of one aspect or institution related to social problems, thus giving students a more complex understanding of how political struggles and social change impact social problems over time. Civil Rights Movement “Identities that had once been sources of stigma and discrimination became sources of pride, power and a collective movement for social justice. With this movement came a new sense of identity for both participants and the system of social relations around them.” The Environment “Key to the changing consciousness of humans’ impact on the environment came from the emergence of local, regional, an international grassroots citizens’ groups, community organizations and non-profits.”

13. Voices from the Field Not only are most of these people engaged in challenging various social problems, but they are students or former students of sociology who discuss how their course work and school experiences influenced their career trajectories Cassie Watters “It really inspired me to want to do organizing work, especially based on the coalition model. It inspired me to seek work at nonprofits such as Jobs with Justice, and form SLAP [Student Labor Action Project] remain the most fulfilling work of mine to date. I think the revival of a national student activist network was influenced by local activism such as ours. “ Christiana Ochoa “I believe social problems are more complex and muddy than can be expressed on paper – they simply look different in person. my early service-learning work has taught me to recognize my own ignorance and to seek out opportunities to see, to touch, and to engage with social problems, rather that to remain insulated from the dangers and discomforts I will surely face in doing so.”

14. First Edition: Social Problems: A Service Learning Approach 3. Voices from the Field Bob Zellner What’s the benefit?

15. First Edition: Social Problems: A Service Learning Approach1. Service Learning What is it? What’s the benefit?

16. First Edition: Social Problems: A Service Learning Approach 2. Case-based Welfare Warriors What’s the Benefit? Student focused Action –oriented Enforces idea of analyzing and acting simultaneously Accessible yet poignant