Service
Learning
Service Learning experiences are powerful versions of
experiential learning in which students go out into the Òreal worldÓ and
interact with members of the community.
ÒWhat is
service-learning? Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that
integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to
enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen
communities.
What are the goals of
service-learning? Service-learning combines service to the community with
student learning in a way that improves both the student and the community. As
they participate in their community service projects, actively meeting the
needs of communities, youth develop practical skills, self-esteem, and a sense
of civic responsibility.
How does
service-learning differ from community service or volunteering? Community service is volunteer action taken to meet the needs of others and
better the community as a whole. Service-learning is integrated into and
enhances the academic curriculum of students engaged in service, or the
educational components of the community service program in which the
participants are enrolled. Service-learning provides structured time for
thoughtful planning of the service project and guided reflection by
participants on the service experience. Overall, the most important feature of
effective service-learning programs is that both learning and service are emphasized.Ó
[Service-learning
experiences are] Òpositive, meaningful and real to the participants.
They involve cooperative rather than competitive experiences
and thus promote skills associated with teamwork and community involvement and
citizenship.
They promote deeper learning because the results are
immediate and uncontrived. There are no "right answers" in the back
of the book.
As a consequence of this immediacy of experience,
service-learning is more likely to be personally meaningful to participants and
to generate emotional consequences, to challenge values as well as ideas, and hence
to support social, emotional and cognitive learning and development.Ó