0.5 Service learning

Defining service learning

Service-learning has been defined as both a program type and a philosophy of education.

• As a program type, service-learning includes myriad ways that students can perform meaningful service to their communities and tosociety while engaging in some form of reflection or study that is related to the service.
• As a philosophy of education, service-learning reflects the belief that education must be linked to social responsibility and that themost effective learning is active and connected to experience in some way."

In other words, according to the organization: Facing the Future, Service Learning is a "teaching tool that ties academiccurriculum to a service project that both reinforces and expands students' learning. It is aimed at creating experiential education for young peopleso that they can connect the learning to their own lives and provide a benefit to the local or global community." (www.facingthefuture.org)

Features Include :

• Students, teachers and community partners develop learning objectives that meet educational standards and address the change inknowledge, skills and attitudes they expect to see as a result of the service project.
• The project addresses a real community need and is linked to learning objectives.
• Students have an opportunity to reflect on and learn from their project before, during and after their service.

"Service-learning programs are explicitly structured to promote learning about the larger social issues behind theneeds to which their service is responding. This learning includes a deeper understanding of the historical, sociological, cultural, economic andpolitical contexts of the needs or issues being addressed." (Jane Kendall, NSEE, 1990)

Teaching and advising, research and scholarship, outreach and the community can all be enhanced through student and facultyinvolvement in community service-learning. The goals are to involve students in the community, to get students into explorations of theworkplace, to provide learning opportunities that integrate the skills learned in school with realities of community life.

Benefits of service learning

Students benefit through:

• Hands-on skills/knowledge that increases relevance of academic skills
• Opportunities that accommodate different learning styles
• Interaction with people of diverse cultures and lifestyles
• Increased sense of self-efficacy, analytical skills, and social development
• Valuable and competitive career guidance and experience
• Opportunities for meaningful involvement with the local community Increased civic responsibility

"It brings books to life and life to books"

Faculty benefit through:

Inspiration and invigoration of teaching methods

Increased student contact through greater emphasis on student-centered teaching

A new perspective on learning and an increased understanding of how learning occurs Connecting the community withcurriculum