Group Endeavours in

Service Learning
 Dr Tan Soo Yin
Psychological Studies Academic Group
 Topics of Sharing
What is GESL?
GESL objectives and outcomes
GESL group structure
Workflow and schedule
Potential Projects and Resources
Project Deliverables & Assessment
Administrative support
Feedback from student teachers and Constraints
WHAT IS GESL?
Where is my group?
What is Group Endeavours in Service Learning (GESL)?
Group Endeavours in Service Learning is a local service learning
programme for all student teachers. GESL involves community outreach
and engagement and gives student teachers the opportunity to serve and
to learn from the community. It is a process that will strengthen character
and build citizenry.

Mandatory 6 9 Month Minimum

for all Pre- Service GESL 20hrs face-
service Learning meetings to-face
Teachers at Experience take place connection
NIE since with local once a week with host
2005 community organisation

Each project has service and learning objectives

NIE Values, Skills & Knowledge (V3SK) Model
Attributes of the 21st Century Teaching Professional
V3 Service to the
V1 Learner-Centered V2 Teacher Identity Profession and
Values Community

Empathy Aims for high standards Collaborative learning and

Belief that all children can Enquiring nature practice
learn Quests for learning Building apprenticeship
Commitment to nurturing Strives to Improve and mentorship
the potential in each child Passion Social responsibility and
Valuing of diversity Adaptive & Resilient engagement
Ethical Stewardship
Professional

SKILLS KNOWLEDGE

Reflective skills & thinking dispositions Self

Pedagogical skills Pupil
People management skills Community
Self-management skills Subject content
Administrative & management skills Pedagogy
Communication skills Educational Foundation & Policies
Facilitative skills Curriculum
Technological skills Multicultural literacy
Innovation and Entrepreneurship skills Global awareness
Social and emotional intelligence Environmental awareness
GESL OBJECTIVES &
OUTCOMES
GESL is a pedagogy for building 21st CC

21st Century
Competencies and
Student Outcomes

Source: Ministry of Education Singapore

OBJECTIVES of GESL :
Understanding of self and others
Understand community needs better and explore social
entrepreneurship
Develop effective team skills
Develop and exercise situational leadership skills
Develop project management skills
Encourage innovation and creativity under conditions of resource and
time constraints
Experience service-learning and group project work which you may
apply in school
Link curriculum learning to service learning experiences

Through service learning experiences, student teachers are exposed to the values
of service in the community and this enhances their ability to contribute to the
community in their future role as educators.
GESL OUTCOMES

Awareness of
Group Learning Personal Growth Community and
Student Issues
Acquire group Acquire personal Increase
skills setting and interpersonal exposure to and
goals and working skills understanding of
toward a common Ability to resolve community
purpose conflicts, manage problems
Ability to work and execute plans Eventually take
within a group Acquire on leadership
structure to leadership skills roles in their
function well in a Ability to work school service
group and as a collaboratively learning projects
group with community
agencies
GESL GROUP STRUCTURE
GESL GROUP STRUCTURE

Staff Mentor

Coordinates
communication within Secretary
the group and with OTE

2 Group Leaders
The leaders will be
trained on the foundations
of Service-Learning,
experiential learning
cycle, facilitation skills,
project management, and
managing a group
effectively.
2 Group
Facilitators
The facilitators will be
trained in the
understanding of
facilitating for learning
and be able to design
facilitation sessions and
facilitate learning with the
GESL group.
Treasurer,
2 Safety Officers Publicity Officer,
Photographer, etc
Attend Safety Briefing. All members are
Prepare RAMs and expected to take on
ensure activities are roles to support the
carried out in a safe group.
manner.
 Group Leaders
Understand the rationale, objectives and requirements of GESL and the
groups project
Ensure group meetings to begin and end promptly and that the group
will follow an agenda that outlines the tasks it expects to accomplish
during the meeting
Allow group members to use their strengths and bring their individual
knowledge and backgrounds to the project to allow the group to function
to its full potential
Identify each members roles and responsibilities
Update staff mentor regularly about the groups progress
Build and develop positive relationships with partner organisations
Attend training for Leaders
Group Facilitators
Understand the rationale, objectives and requirements of GESL and
the groups project
Facilitate discussion within the group by designing effective facilitation
sessions to help student teachers internalise learning
Observe, listen and evaluate groups learning
Reflect throughout the process of the entire service-learning
experience
Update staff mentor regularly about the groups progress
Build and develop positive relationships with partner organisations
Summarize and direct closure activities
Attend training for Group Facilitators
 Roles of Group Members
Contribute to the formation of group goals, the dividing of the work among
group members, and the setting of deadlines.
Be an active participant in the group process - understand and demonstrate
high level of involvement and commitment to the group project.
Do your fair share of the work and confront group members who are not doing
their fair share.
Open for feedback from the group on work you complete and provide
constructive feedback on the work of other group members.
Handle disagreements constructively - understand and demonstrate high level
of professional conduct.
Respect each others opinion.
Perform the risk assessment management process to ensure that risks are
minimized. (Safety Officers)
Build and develop positive relationships with partner organisations.
Adhere to all regulations and procedures of the partner organisations.
Maintain confidentiality where necessary.
WORKFLOW & SCHEDULE
WORKFLOW OF GESL PROGRAMME
Selected groups
present their projects
during SL Day

A staff mentor is
Composition of the groups assigned to mentor
took into consideration each GESL group
diversity in race, gender,
age, and subject area Reflection throughout the SL experience
captured in ePorfolio or reflections worksheet

Student
teachers are Training is Information
arranged by provided to on projects Student teachers meet with
programme staff with Non- Assessment
cohort. mentors, Profit their staff mentor by staff
group Organisations 2 hours per week mentors
Teambonding leaders and on
is carried out facilitators Blackboard throughout the program
as a group

Various community
projects are offered by
VWOs, NPOs

Training by
experienced
facilitators
Schedule of Work
Time Task
Week of 5 Dec 2016 GESL briefing & Team-bonding
Week of 9 Jan 2017 First meeting with staff mentors and group members
Week of 16 Jan 2017 Sharing by NYC on funding opportunities

Feb 2017 Team should know each other well and have identified members
strengths and identified roles

May 2017 Proposal ready based on visits and meetings with partners, needs
analysis, etc
Review group project proposal form for submission online
End July 2017 Complete GESL Project
End Sept 2017 Complete GESL Project Presentation to Staff Mentor
Oct 2017 Service Learning Day (Show & Tell to NIE community)
Review final report for submission
Oct - Nov 2017 GESL assessment to be completed by NIE Staff Mentor
POTENTIAL PROJECTS &
RESOURCES
 Project Ideas for Consideration
Area of Focus Target Population
Community Building / Development Children and Youth
Character Building Students
Environmental / Conservation Disabled
Disaster Prevention and Recovery Sickly
Health / Safety Elderly
Literacy / Education Underprivileged
Music / Art Public
Animal Welfare Nature / Earth
Social Welfare Animals
Public Policy
Diversity / Multicultural
Technology
Resources

References available on Blackboard

GESL guidelines
GESL E-Book
http://www.nie.edu.sg/gesl
GESL Archive
NYC YCM Guidebook -
http://ycm.nyc.sg/downloads/YCM_Guide_Book.pdf
PROJECT DELIVERABLES &
ASSESSMENT
 Project Deliverables
Project Documentation Project Artifacts
Required Brochure
Updated Project Proposal (all fields Training/ Learning Package
required including background of partner Website
organisation) to be submitted online Detailed Programme and Nature of
Project Reflections (After project Activities (if your project is a
implementation) workshop/camp)
End-of-Project Reports/ End-of-Project Photos, Video
Presentation to Staff Mentors (Powerpoint Other Artifacts of Project
slides, etc)
Financial Report/ Budgeting and other
funding sources if applicable (can also be Project Implementation
included in proposal) On-site
Optional
Minutes of Meeting

Note: Groups are required to submit a soft copy of the above in the form of a CD to
the GESL Office. A Project File (hard copy) must be submitted to the Staff Mentor at
the end of project for assessment purposes.
Assessment for GESL
GESL has been allocated 1 Academic Unit
Student Teachers will be evaluated on group and individual level:

Knowledge Application (Process)

Knowledge Application (Product)
Communication (Oral)
Collaboration (Teamwork)

Upon completion of the GESL project, the student teacher will be

awarded a Pass/Fail Grade.
Student Teachers who do not obtain a pass grade will need to
repeat the GESL programme (1 Semester)
Supervised by Assistant Dean, Diploma & Student Development
Assessment on the Group Level

Knowledge Knowledge
Communication Collaboration
Application Application
(Oral) (Teamwork)
(Process) (Product)

Planning, Being creative Organising and Managing time

gathering and and reflective presenting your Working
using information Using knowledge ideas clearly cooperatively
during planning and skills from Engaging
Implementing different areas audiences
service project Creating a final attention
plans product that Answering
Reviewing and showcases the questions
adapting plans what, why and Using visuals/IT (if
Improving on how of your work applicable)
quality with the
community
Assessment on the Individual Level

Independent Learning

Has a positive attitude towards learning

Has a positive attitude towards servicing the community
Has leadership abilities
Is able to do project management
Sets high standards in his/her work
Does his/her fair share of work
Shares his/her ideas and views with his/her group
Is willing to consider the opinions of others, even if he/she
doesnt agree with them
Is accepting of others in his/her group
Understands and accepts his/her own strengths and
weaknesses
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Financing of GESL Projects

Project Funding
$100 GESL seed money for each group from NIE; claims to be
made through GESL group members
Young ChangeMakers Grant (YCM) from NYC
Instructions on how to apply for these funds:
http://ycm.nyc.sg/
Claims
Please keep original receipts; NO MARKINGS on receipts
More details on financial guidelines will be available on Blackboard
Considerations in use of NIE identity

Use of NIE Logo must be approved by OTE.

Letter of introduction will be available through request from
OTE.
Final product to be produced for public check to make sure
content will not compromise the reputation of NIE in any way.
Administration and Support
- Take enquiries
- Collect receipt claims
- Provide NIE letter templates to partner organisations
- Assist in booking of NIE facilities; Request must be made 2
Weeks in advance
- Loan of first aid kits (Limited sets available)
- Collect GESL group project CDs
- Issue GESL transcripts
Min 67903269
Jann 67903332

Office of Teacher Education

Contact email: gesl@nie.edu.sg
Website: http://www.nie.edu.sg/gesl
Collaboration / Communication Platforms

Google Sites,
and other
collaboration
platforms

OTE
Introduction to communications on
GESL GESL
GESL
Blackboard
website

Communication
Medium

Event Email
announcements communication
and GESL NIE Portal Email between staff
transcript mentors and
management students
FEEDBACK FROM STUDENT
TEACHERS & CONSTRAINTS
Feedback from Student-Teachers

Entire experience is itself a reward

Better prepared to face challenges
Improved people and communication skills
Able to make a difference
Better able to work as a team
Able to handle uncertainties better
Greater appreciation of community
 Constraints

Programme Experience Resources

Diversity of group members profiles Packed ITP curriculum to allow

and experiences as root of group for more time to work on GESL
conflicts projects
Varying exposure to the community
due to time constraints and differing
project scope
Large group size made it difficult for
all members to contribute on an
equal basis

Action plan: Capitalize on each others strengths

and special talents!
CONCLUSION
 Important Dates to Remember
Activity Date Venues
Teambonding activities 7 Dec 2016 NIE Gym

Group Leaders Training 21 Jan 2017 To be announced in email

confirmation

Group Facilitators Training 21 Jan 2017 To be announced in email

confirmation
First meeting with staff mentors and Week of 9 Jan 2017 Respective GESL class
group members venues
GESL Sharing Session by NYC 18 Jan 2017 Check announcement on
(10.30am) Blackboard
Safety Talk April 2017 Check announcement on
(10.30am to 11.30am) Blackboard
Service Learning Day Oct 2017 Check announcement on
Blackboard
To Remember
I serve so that I may learn
from you
You accept my service so that
you may teach me
Tim Stanton

Key Message:
o Respect the people you serve,
humble yourself
o Community is your classroom
o People you serve are your
teachers