Service Learning projects are fast becoming an innovative tool at the University of Minnesota, Crookston and many other colleges. This style of learning develops knowledge through experience as well as classroom lecture.

There are several classes being taught using this style of learning; one of these classes is Sociology with a focus on gerontology. Instructed by Peggy Miller, this class creates an environment where the student learns through experience as well as in the classroom. The students are to adopt a grandparent and visit him/her for a total of fifteen hours and keep journals of their visits. The student is also to write a paper at the end of the class, which reflects the learning process the students go through as time passes.

Kari Visness, a sociology student, has "adopted" a grandparent, Edna H., which she finds is a rewarding experience that aids in her understanding of the aging process. Visness takes in the stories of a culture and a time gone by.

"The little things make the biggest difference to people who are unable to care for themselves," Visness said.

The company of another person can make a big difference in the life of a resident in a nursing home. When asked about the usefulness of Service Learning in the classroom, Visness said, "The adopt-a-grandparent project has allowed me to see for myself if I agree with the theories we've studied in class and to apply all that I'm learning."
Visness is learning not just about sociology, but about life and its complexities. Perhaps Service Learning helps to teach more than just a given class; it gives insight to practical experience in life.