What is service-learning?

Service-learning is a teaching method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. It is more than merely community service. It is a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.

Service-learning provides a context for talking about learning in terms of not only what students know but also what they are able to do. Critical to this type of learning is building in time for students to reflect on their service experience. Reflection time helps students make the connection between classroom and community learning, and ensures they understand the extent to which they can impact positive change.

Service-learning builds stronger academic skills. First, students take an active role in determining how the projects are identified and accomplished, creating interest and excitement for learning. Second, service-learning accommodates many different learning styles.

By teaching students early about the role they can play in their community, service-learning also encourages lifelong civic participation. Furthermore, by relating academic activities to real-life experiences, service-learning improves workplace skills and enhances personal development among youth. Finally, service-learning gives students a sense of competency; they see themselves as active contributors to their community and learning experiences rather than passive recipients of adult decisions.

Examples include:

• High school foreign language students create English vocabulary books for elementary English as a Second Language students and other local organizations to help the community's growing Spanish-speaking population, learn English. Through creating the books, the high school students increase their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and Hispanic culture.
• As part of a history class, middle school students conduct research on the history of their community and write stories that are then displayed at the town hall. The students interview townspeople and visit local libraries to collect information. In addition to enhancing their writing and research skills, the students gain an understanding of their community history through their work and the subsequent classroom reflection.
• Fourth graders enhance their reading and writing skills and learn the importance of literacy for preschool children by developing ABC books for new preschool children. As part of the curriculum, students make bound volumes with specially designed book covers. They then "host" a preschooler during the first week of school - by helping with tours of the school and spending time reading their ABC book with the preschoolers. Through this project the fourth graders meet grade level objectives for punctuation, use of expressive words, multiple meaning words, creative writing and critical thinking, at the same time engaging in service to other students.
• As part of their science curriculum, middle school students take water samples of their local waterway. They analyze the amount and nature of pollutants in the water and look for the source of that pollution. They write letters to their local government to inform the city officials of the problem and encourage them to take action.

How is service-learning different from community service, internships and cooperative education?

The key to service-learning is the link between community service and classroom studies. In other words, student service is designed around meeting curriculum objectives. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning. While internships and cooperative education are experiential and include a classroom component, they generally do not focus on service to the community.

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