Service Learning: Building Campus-Community Ties

A video created by SFUNews about last fall's HSCI 349: Community Health Services cohort.  The video was taken during the final presentations of our projects.  Congratulations Fall 2010 students!

How Hard Was 8th Grade Geography in 1931?

Via the Washington Post

The Washington Post just published an 8th grade final exam handed out in West Virginia in 1931.  It's interesting to see how testing has changed since the 1930s. There are no multiple choice questions, many essay questions, and the exam itself is quite difficult.  The test is very specific to the region of West Virginia as well - many questions are about textiles, farming, and coal production.  This helps to encourage the growth of the local economy.  The exam covers geography, history, English, penmanship, arithmetic, agriculture, hygeine and physiology.  View the orginal test here.

How to Get Your Kids to Do Their Homework

 Via GOOD.  Photo credit: Leah-Anne Thomps

A new study says that to get kids to do their homework, we have to show them how homework is an investment in their future.  Students in the study who were told that higher education equals higher earnings were 8 times more likely to do their assignments than those who were not.  Showing kids that what they're doing now is linked to their future helps make homework feel practical and necessary.

Where is the Greenest School? Bali, Indonesia

Via CNN

The Green School in Bali, Indonesia is a radical international school.  Made from bamboo and cooled using the wind, the school is a model of sustainability. The school harnesses the power of the sun and the nearby river to supply electricity. In the school farm, students learn how to grow rice and vegetables.  Food from the farm is used to prepare the daily, local lunch.  Students from 17 countries, including children from Bali, attend the school.  Courses are taught using a "learning by doing" method.  The focus of the curriculum is on working together and teaching eco-friendly practices.  This may be an extreme learning environment, but perhaps we can apply some of these ideas here in BC.

What Will the Classroom of the Future Look Like?

Via Slate Magazine

Slate Magazine recently asked readers to redesign the grade 5 classroom.  The results are impressive!  The new classroom is a large, open space with plenty of windows and access to the outdoors.  Film projectors, art spaces, and a learning garden complete the classroom.  Check out the article here.

What does Eating Together Have to Do with Health?

Via GOOD

Laurie David is concerned about the death of family dinner.  With the rise of microwaveable and fast foods, family dinners made from fresh, local ingredients are now scarce.  It comes as no surprise that obesity is a growing epidemic in nations where cooking skills and fresh foods are not valued.  Eating together lets families share stories and histories and teaches kids how to make conversation.  Let's make a return to the family dinner.

Read an interview with Laurie David about family dinners here.

Why Obesity is a Complex Problem (and How to Solve it)

Via TED

Jamie Oliver wishes to end obesity through a number of changes to the food industry, school lunch programs, and family dinner.  At Central, some SFU volunteers are teaching classes about nutrition and the importance of fruits and vegetables.  Ms. Reese has tasting classes to get kids to try new (and healthy) foods.  Even with these programs in place, more needs to be done to make sure our kids (and adults) stay healthy into the future.  Watch the inspiring video above.

How Can We Get Kids Excited About Food?

Chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkley, California founded the Edible Schoolyard.  The Edible Schoolyard teaches course subjects by letting students muck around in the garden.  The garden teaches students about sustainability, gardening, and food preparation.  It is also a way of getting kids excited about food and making healthy food choices.  Alice partnered with her local middle school to create the garden.  The garden has grown to over an acre in size and produces hundred of pounds of fruits and vegetables every year.  Food prepared from the garden is given to local charity.

How to Help Communties Through Service Learning

Via TED

Emily Pilloton, founder of Project H Design, moved to rural Bertie County, North Carolina to help create a service based learning course for the local high school. Service learning provides students with the opportunity to apply course knowledge to real life though hands-on experience. Pilloton's course teaches principles of design and puts these skills to use through community projects. For one project, students created a "Learning Landscape" that combines physical activity and math. The class researches the needs of the community before building and constructs projects with users in mind. We have written about service learning before here.

Who's Washing Their Hands?

Via GOOD

It's cold and flu season, so here's a reminder to wash your hands with plain soap and water to prevent spreading viruses and bacteria to others.  Using antibacterial soap increases antibiotic resistance and pollutes waterways, so choose plain soap.

To view a hand washing demonstration, follow after the jump...

Meet the Class!

Photos courtesy of Jenny Scott

Last Friday, the Health Sciences 349: Community Health Services class met at Central Community School.  Some students joined in the Halloween parade earlier in the day and showed up dressed in their costumes!

The Simon Fraser University (SFU) students are working with Central Community School staff, teachers, and students to help create a healthy school community.  The SFU students take a broad definition of health, helping students improve their literacy, numeracy, eating choices, physical activity, social relationships, and other health behaviors.

Click here to read a news article to learn more about SFU students and their work with Central Community School.

View more pictures after the jump...

How to Deal with Bullying

Everyone has been bullied at one time or another.  It is cruel and must be stopped.  In bullying, there is a clear power difference between the bully and the victim. Bullying can be calling someone names, starting a rumor, excluding someone from a group, physically harming someone, or taunting someone online. Follow after the jump to read what you can do to reduce bullying at your school:

• Kids, when you see bullying happen, tell an adult.
• If someone bullies you, look them in the eye and say "Stop.  I don't like it.  Leave me alone" then tell an adult.
• Ask your school if they have a bullying policy (Central does).
• Parents, if you suspect your child is being bullied, tell the school administration.  Listen to your child and suggest ways to avoid confrontation.
• Record bullying events when they happen.  Include date, time and place.
• Work with teachers, students, parents and administrators to solve the problem.

(Adapted from "A Bullying Primer for Central Community School", 2010)

"Waiting For Superman": A Movie About the Importance of Great Teachers

TakePart: Participant Media - Waiting For 'Superman' - Infographic from Jr.canest on Vimeo.

"Waiting for Superman" debuted in Vancouver at the VIFF.  The filmmakers show the magical effect of great teachers on students.  Great teachers help students achieve their dreams and strengthen communities.  This video clip shows the possibilities if we support each child's educational goals.

Lunch is a Health Issue

Via TED

Although we do not have a lunch program in schools in Canada, we have much to learn from this video.  Ann Cooper talks about how we should think of food as a health issue.  She argues that we should spend more money and direct more attention to the health of our children in schools.

12 Ways to Make Healthy Lunch Choices Easier

Via The New York Times

This week in The New York Times, university professors re-designed the school lunch line.  The goal of the project was to improve students' healthy decision-making. The professors made nutritious options more attractive than unhealthy options.  Many of the same rules can be applied at home to help kids learn to make healthy decisions.  Click here for the full article and infographic.

Why Service Learning is Needed

 Dr. Jim Kielsmeier via GOOD

In this interview, GOOD speaks to Dr. Jim Kielsmeier, founder and CEO of the National Youth Leadership Council.  He talks about how service learning connects what students are learning in school with community projects.  Studies show that students learn better with hands-on experience.  Service learning also decreases drop-out rates by engaging students. Click here for the interview.

Should Advertisements Be Allowed in Schools?

Via David Brewster of the Star Tribune

In Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota, school officials are deciding to cover 10% of school spaces (walls, ceilings, floors, and lockers) with advertising.  The one-year trial will bring nearly $200 000 to the school district.  School officials defend their decision, saying that as long as the ads do not affect learning, they will keep them.  The school will be able to turn down ads deemed not suitable for kids.

How does advertising in schools affect students' self-image and health?  Should school officials take more into their decision-making than advertising's effects on learning?  The funds from the advertising amount to just over $25.00 per student.  Is this enough?  Is the bottom-line too important to schools?  Does turning to advertising show that schools need more money from governments?

How Should We Teach the Leaders of Tomorrow?

Sir Ken Robinson is a world-famous education and creativity expert.  Here, he talks about teaching "one answer" versus "many answer" thinking. He argues that to teach the leaders of tomorrow, we must develop critical thinking and creativity within the public school system. Tomorrow's leaders will have to be well-equipped to help address future health and environmental concerns. See the very inspiring animated clip above.

Gourmet School Lunches in France

Via CBS News

Due to budget cuts and issues with food preparation, many schools in British Columbia find it difficult to provide lunches to students.  Centennial Secondary School in Coquitlam runs a centralized food program and delivers meals to students in the district.

In France, students in public schools are offered a gourmet school lunch program costing between $2.50 and $6.00 (USD) per meal.  Families in need pay what they can and the rest is paid for by the government.  The program, run out of centralized kitchens, employs some very successful chefs as seen in the clip above.