SOC 411 - Canadian Association for Community Service Learning

Appendix A:
Service Learning Option
What is the Service Learning (SL) Option for this Course?
This Service Learning option in this course gives students the opportunity to teach basic data
management concepts to Grade 8 students from Ryerson Community Public School. The emphasis
will be on using mathematics as a tool for learning more about the people and community around
Ryerson Public School.
Ryerson Community Public School is located in the Kensington-Chinatown area of Toronto. Almost
two-thirds of students come from homes where English is not the first language. Approximately one
in every ten Ryerson PS students have been living in Canada for two years or less, and one in five
students have been living in Canada for five years or less. Over the past decade, changes to the
education funding model in Ontario have resulted in fewer resources for ESL programs and
educational assistants in Toronto elementary schools.
Many of the students in the Grade 8 class we are paired with are working below their grade level.
Students from SOC 411 will work with Grade 8 students in a group tutoring program we are calling
the Ryerson 2 Program. The goal for the Ryerson PS students is to build their math confidence and
skills, as well as to introduce them to university students and post-secondary education. The goal for
Ryerson U students is also to become more comfortable with math, and to solidify your knowledge
of data management and statistics by teaching key concepts to others.
Some concepts covered in the early part of this course overlap with data management curriculum for
Grade 8 students. In the first part of the Winter term, Ryerson U students will learn this material,
visit a Ryerson PS Grade 8 math class, and attend a session on effective tutoring. You will then
develop a worksheet that teaches a basic data management concept and also illustrates some aspect
of the social world around Ryerson PS. Following the February break, Ryerson U students will meet
weekly with Ryerson PS students to provide tutoring and build students’ skills and confidence. In
the first two weeks, you’ll be assisting Ryerson PS students with textbook problems. In the last four
weeks, you will use your worksheet (and the worksheets of other people doing SL) when meeting
with the Ryerson PS students.
Why would I want to do Service Learning?
Students who participate in the SL option will further develop their understanding of quantitative
data analysis, practice their teaching skills and contribute to community development by promoting
access to post-secondary education. This option was developed in order to help sociology students
who feel they are not particularly strong in math build their confidence. It will also provide new
challenges for students who are already quite comfortable with their math skills.
The SL option will also help you build career skills and gain practical community experience. This
option might be particularly interesting to students who are considering a career in teaching.
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