The Grove | Valencia College

Reading Festival Allows Education Students to Obtain Service Learning Hours During Pandemic

Feb

11

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Thursday, February 11, 2021

A Message from Terri Graham, Interim President, West and Downtown Campuses

While much has been written about the challenges to teaching and learning brought on by COVID-19, some education students are experiencing additional hurdles in meeting state mandates that require the completion of observation or service learning hours in educational settings.

Due to policies that aim to ensure the health and safety of students, families, staff and faculty, many educational organizations, including Valencia College, are discouraging or prohibiting face-to-face interactions. With more than 60 students in need of service learning placement during the Spring 2021 term, Professor of Education Paula DaSilva is addressing this issue by developing a program that will allow those students to obtain their service learning hours, while benefiting the larger community.

With Valencia College serving as the host educational site, and with the support of Librarian Emilie Buckley and Professor of Education and Co-advisor of the Valencia Future Educators Jane Maguire, students will complete the state-mandated number of service learning hours by hosting a virtual reading festival to celebrate National Reading Month in March. The festival, which will take place via Zoom from Tuesday, March 30 through Friday, April 2, 2021, from 4 to 6 p.m. will consist of 30-minute book-based activities for children and families. All activities will be developed and facilitated by education students and their invited guests.

To get involved or for additional information, please contact Paula at adasilva9@valenciacolleg.edu or 407-299-5000, extension 1712.

Related Tags: service learning