Service Learning - Bonus Activity
Project Skill: Selecting a Project Helper
Life Skill: Planning and organizing
National Education Standard: N.L.ENG K-12.11 Participating in society
Success Indicator: Selects a project helper
Introduction
Your helper should be a cheerleader, confidante, resource person and much more. Choosing a project helper is very important – and influences the success or failure of your mission. This activity will help you consider different qualities you observe in a project helper.
Mission Possible
Pretend you are evaluating four potential project helpers, and have to pick one to help you with your service learning project. Read the descriptions of each helper below. Think about what you are seeking in a project helper and rank them in order from 1 to 5, with 1 being your first choice for a project helper, and 5 being your last choice for a project helper.
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Tye Rant
- Picks my service learning project for me
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Tells me why my ideas won’t work when I talk about them.
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Knows places to find information and brings me the information he thinks is best.
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Tells me what I do wrong and does not tell me what I do right. He points out how far behind I am.
My rating ________
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Sue Porter
- Talks to me about my mission but lets me have the final say on my project.
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Listens to my ideas and problems and helps me see how things work.
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Knows great places to find information and resources. She sends me to find information.
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Encourages me as I do my mission and checks on me to make sure I am completing my mission plan.
My rating ________
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Bea Lee Gerd
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Doesn’t have time to talk to me about my service learning project.
- Doesn’t have time to listen to my ideas or problems.
- Hands me information and plans my project without me.
- Forgets to meet me at my project site and is surprised when the mission is complete.
My rating ________
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Buddy Bliss
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Tells me all my ideas for missions are wonderful and cannot help me pick or make any decisions.
- Listens to my ideas and just nods.
- Tells me I don’t need information or help because I already know enough.
- Hovers over me and tells me everything is great when I know it isn’t.
My rating ________
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Dee Dunce
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Doesn’t very much at all when I talk about my service learning project.
- Is not sure how many of my ideas or resources would work.
- Tells me to ask my teacher for places to find information and resources.
- Isn’t sure how to get started or if I am doing things correctly.
My rating ________
Who would you pick as a project helper?
I would pick _________________
Now think about the adults in your life.
Who do you want to ask to be your project helper?
I want to ask _________________
Schedule an appointment or meeting with the person you are thinking about asking. Explain your service learning project to him/her and ask if they would like to be your project helper. They may find it helpful to see your youth guide and the helper’s guide.
Debrief
Reporting Out (share what you did)
What qualities did the sample helpers have that you did not like?
What qualities did the sample helpers have that you did like?
Investigate (process what’s important)
How did you decide a rating for each helper?
What made it difficult to choose between the helpers?
Trace the links (generalize to your life)
Describe real people in your life who are like some of the examples listed in the activity.
How can a ranking system help you in another part of your life?
Follow the Lead (apply what you learned)
Why are some people better suited to be project helpers than others?
How can someone who might not be your first choice today, become your first choice in the future?
Bonus Assignments
1.
Create a skit to share with your class, club or group about selecting a project helper.
2. Develop a guide to help others select project helpers for different types of 4-H projects besides service learning.
3. Create an awards program to recognize outstanding project helpers.
Intelligence
Choosing a project helper is not easy. There are so many people to consider asking. Everyone has different skills and competing demands asking for their time. Consider the following:
Your personal strengths and weaknesses. Find a project helper who can help you improve. Where do you need the most help? Where do you need the least help?
Availability. Some people might make excellent project helpers, but not have the time to talk with you or help you. Consider calendars and scheduling when seeking a project helper.
Personal qualities. A good project helper understands and listens to young people, and is not overbearing. They are nurturing people who help youth grow and develop to their fullest potential. Potential helpers also should be screened through your 4-H office or school volunteer program.
Knowledge and expertise. Knowing about funds, organizations or other resources to help you with your service project is also a desirable trait in a project helper. Many helpers can acquire knowledge or can point you to resources to help with your service project.
Understands responsibilities. It is important for a project helper to know what he/she is getting into. If you need to meet with your helper once a week, that should be clear up front. It can be helpful to have a contract between you and your project helper. The contract spells out what your obligations are, and what the helper’s commitments are to you.