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Purpose, Goals, Definition, and Benefits of Service LearningPurpose and Goals of Service Learning The service-learning mission is threefold. Service learning provides volunteer opportunities to Park University Honors Students who will share their talents, skills, interest and expertise. In addition, service learners will assist nonprofit and health care agencies in recruitment of students for their special activities and/or daily tasks. Lastly, Honors Program service learners will document and report the value and impact of service learning student work to interested parties in journal entries and essays. Those documents will be posted to this website beginning at the spring semester, 2008. Check back then! For additional helpful links and information from Park’s International Center for Civic Engagement, including examples of service learning on the campus, please visit: http://www.park.edu/icce/servlearn.aspx
“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...The distinctive element of service-learning is that it enhances the community through the service provided, but it also has powerful learning consequences for the students or others participating in providing a service. Service-learning is growing so rapidly because we can see it is having a powerful impact on young people and their development.” National Service-Learning Clearinghouse “Service learning is a credit –bearing, educational experience in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility.” Robert Bringle and Julie Hatcher. “A Service Learning Curriculum by Faculty.”
The “Service learning means a method under which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service that is conducted in and meets the needs of a community and is coordinated with an institution of higher education, and with the community; helps foster civic responsibility; is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum of the students enrolled, and includes structured time for students to reflect on the service experience. American Association for Higher Education (AAHE):
Series of Service-Learning in the “Service-Learning is a teaching method which combines community service with academic instruction as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking and civic responsibility. Service-learning programs involve students in organized community service that addresses local needs, while developing their academic skills, sense of civic responsibility and commitment to the community.” Campus Compact National Center for Community Colleges
Students participating in Service Learning develop: ___ A reduction of negative stereotypes and an increase in tolerance for diversity. ___ Greater self-knowledge. ___ Greater spiritual-growth. ___ Increased ability to work with others. ___ Increased leadership skills. ___ Increased feeling of being connected to a community. ___ Increased connection to the college experience through closer ties to students and faculty. ___ Increased reported learning and motivation to learn. ___ Deeper understanding of subject matter. ___ Deeper understanding of the complexity of social issues. ___ Increased ability to apply material learned in class to real problems. Janet Eyler
and Dwight E Giles. Where’s the Learning in Service-Learning?
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