Planning and Resources

Service-Learning

If you are looking for a way to help your students develop their self-esteem, boost their academic achievement, and improve their social skills, try implementing service-learning in your classroom. It will be a gratifying experience for both you and your students.

What Is Service-Learning?

People tend to think that service-learning is simply performing a community service. But, service-learning really extends beyond community service. Students perform a community service when the volunteer work that they do in their community is not tied to curriculum outcomes. Service-learning is actually a teaching method that combines service to the community with curriculum-based learning. In service-learning, students learn about and meet a genuine community need that is tied to their academic curriculum. Another key component of service-learning is reflection. Reflection helps students to think about the issues in their community and understand how those issues relate to them personally. (Students can keep a journal and write about their experience.) Service-learning also enables students to be involved in diverse activities that are not traditionally performed in the classroom, and it allows them to help build positive community partnerships.

Why Service-Learning?

There are many innovative teaching and learning methods, such as problem-based learning and project-based learning, that encourage academic development and extend students' learning experience beyond the classroom and into a real-world context. Service-learning does these things, too. However, the social and psychological aspects of adolescents' development are as important as their academic development. Service-learning speaks to adolescents' social and psychological needs. Students who participate in service-learning develop self-esteem and moral values. They feel a sense of usefulness and belonging as they work to help others. They also develop social responsibility and a respect for civic participation. In fact, service-learning can foster in students a lifelong commitment to helping others.

Tips for Starting a Service-Learning Project

• Consider the subject that you are teaching. What topics within that subject could be developed into a useful service-learning experience? For example, accomplished foreign language students can develop lesson plans and teach ESL students English. Or, science students who are learning about energy can conduct an energy survey in their community and then publish suggestions as to how residents can conserve more energy. Brainstorm a list of service-learning ideas that you can easily tie into your curriculum.
• Contact a person in your school or community who knows about the needs of your community. Select a need that you can meet, present your service-learning idea to the appropriate person, and work out a service schedule with him or her.
• Generate a general outline for the service-learning project. Write the academic and social objectives that you want students to meet. Write the academic assignments (including the reflection piece) and the service that students are expected to complete before they will receive credit. Consider how to evaluate students. (e.g. observation, personal interview, oral presentation, regular course assessment, etc.)
• Introduce the service-learning idea and make sure that students are prepared before they begin the project. Discuss the context of the experience and the community need. Review the skills and attitudes that students need to have to make the service beneficial.
• Start the project. Keep your own journal and reflect if the service-learning project is one that you can add to an ever-expanding list of great service-learning ideas for next year!

Links

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
This site contains links to information about service-learning, including ideas for K–12 teachers, self-assessment suggestions, and much more.

Service-Learning Links
The UC Berkeley Service-Learning Research and Development Center has links to service-learning sites.

Service-Learning
This University of Colorado page has links to helpful information about service-learning, including a service-learning discussion group.

Resources

Four Things Faculty Want to Know About! Florida International University. 2/14/01 <http://www.fiu.edu/~time4chg/Library/fourthings.html>

Perkins, Daniel F. and Miller, Joyce. Why Community Service and Service-Learning? Providing Rationale and Research. Quest International. 2/13/01 <http://www.quest.edu/content/Resources/ServiceLearningArticles/slarticle2.htm>