Service
Learning is a form of experiential
learning, often course based, in which students participate in an organized
service activity that meets community needs. The experience provides an
opportunity to enhance student growth and development through critical
thinking and reflection.
Service learning goes beyond Volunteerism
by emphasizing two key elements.
Reciprocity
- assurance that all constituents benefit from the partnership through
shard commitment, decision making and investment.
Reflection
- A framework for bridging coursework to community service by critically
thinking about what has been learned from the experience.
Service Learning is relevant for
- Individual students
- Faculty and Staff
- Community Members
- Students Organizations
- Fraternities and Sororities
- Residence Halls
- Off- campus units
Why is Service Learning Valuable?
1. Students receive valuable college
experience by:
- Connecting course work to relevant real world problem
solving situations.
- Enhancing leadership, critical thinking and cooperative
learning skills
- Acquiring skills relevant for future employers and
professional occupations.
- Building self-esteem and clarifying personal values.
- increasing community responsibility and multicultural
awareness
2. Campus and Community Collaboration
- Provides needed and meaningful service
to the community
- Builds community awareness of university
programs and services
- Forms genuine partnership between community,
students and university
- Encourages commitment to civic participation
3. Integrating service learning into
curriculum
- Increases student motivation to learn
- Promotes active learning
- Develops collaborative decision-making
- Changes the way students think about
and analyze social issues
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