BENEFITS of SERVICE-LEARNING

There are many different skill-based learning objectives that can be enhanced while participating in a community-based learning experience, including service-learning. Many students enter into these experiences with a desire to work towards certain goals or outcomes. Listed below are several possible skills and benefits that students may experience as a result of their service work in the community.

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS

Intellectual Development & Academic Learning

Ø     Specific Subject Matter Knowledge - Students acquire expertise by broadening and deepening their understanding of the subject matter and gain a better understanding of how to apply this knowledge in a community context.

Ø     Critical Thinking Skills - Students are able to utilize techniques such as decision-making, problem-solving,

and analytical skills in understanding complex social problems from multiple perspectives.

Ø     Engages Learner - Students become more interested and motivated to learn and invest time in education because they better understand the relevance and importance of their academic work in relation to everyday life, career choices, and lifelong learning.

Ø     Career Development / Exploration - Students learn about the range of jobs available in the public service sector and gain some clarity on career choices and how they influence larger lifestyle decisions.

Ø     Job Skills - Students gain experience, knowledge and skills for the workplace.

Ø     Networking - Students may develop valuable contacts and build relationships with individuals who can provide references that they may use in the job search process.

Ø     Experience - Students gain experiences that will help build their resume, thereby becoming more marketable when applying for jobs, graduate school, scholarships, etc.

Social & Civic Development

Ø     Social Comfort - Students are comfortable and competent in a variety of social situations.

Ø     Social Sensitivity - Students gain understanding, appreciation and an ability to relate to people from a wide range of backgrounds and life situations.

Ø     Intercultural Competency - Students respect, appreciate and seek out opportunities to engage in cross-cultural situations.

Ø     Intergenerational Connectedness - Students gain the ability to interact and work cooperatively with familial and non-familial adults and effectively seek advice and learn from people of all ages.

Ø     Team Responsibility - Students value working with a group to accomplish a task and believe a group can

often accomplish more than an individual.

Ø     Group Process Skills - Students work well in a group to achieve a task and elicit participation from group members while fully participating.

Awareness of Societal Issues

Ø     Citizen Participation Skills - Students gain a more in-depth understanding of the “political arts,” including

legislative processes, grassroots organizing, advocacy, etc. and how these skills can be used to affect positive social and political change.

Ø     Social Responsibility - Students believe that members of society are interdependent and have an obligation

to work with others to strive for the well-being of all people in all circumstances and for sustaining the earth’s living systems.

Ø     Civic and Community Responsibility - Students believe that members of society have an obligation to participate in public affairs, community building activities and initiatives, and governmental processes.  They also gain an understanding of the variety of approaches to community work.

Ø     Meditation Skills - Students gain an understanding of and experience with various models to work

with groups or individuals in conflict.

Ø     Coalition Building - Students gain experience organizing various people or organizations around a common set of goals.

Ø     Leadership Skills - Students develop valuable skills which will enhance and strengthen their capacity

            to be leaders as they work with community organizations.

Personal Growth & Development

Ø     Interpersonal Communication Skills - Students gain perspective on how effectively to communicate (verbally and non-verbally) with others and learn how to improve personal effectiveness.

Ø     Active Listening Skills - Students are responsive to others and demonstrate understanding.

Ø     Assertiveness Skills - Students gain experience behaving assertively by developing their ability to be honest

and direct while expressing their own thoughts, feelings and interests to others.

Ø     Individual Empowerment and Initiative - Students believe they have the personal capacity to make a difference and contribute positively to society.

Ø     Moral and Ethical Decisions - Students gain clarity on moral and ethical issues and dilemmas through values clarification.

Ø     Self-Awareness - Students are able to identify their own culturally influenced feelings and beliefs.

Ø     Self-Esteem - Students feel more worthwhile, confident and competent.

Ø     Flexibility - Students learn to adapt to changes and to tolerate ambiguity.

Willingness to Take Risks - Students are open to new ideas and processes and are willing to develop and implement them.

BENEFITS FOR SCHOOLS

Ø     Paradigm shift - teachers as coaches and facilitators; student responsibility for their own learning.

Ø     Motivated learners engaged in authentic and significant work. Cooperative learning environment.

Ø     Teachers as reflective practitioners engaged in planning, curriculum development, and inquiry.

Ø     Collaborative decision-making among administrators, teachers, parents, students and community members.

Ø     Positive, healthy, and caring school climate.

Ø     Community involvement resources, and support in the educational process.

BENEFITS FOR COMMUNITIES

Ø     Valuable service to meet direct human, educational, health and environmental needs.

Ø     Universities as resources - University / faculty / student teams serving as researchers and resources in problem-solving and community development.

Ø     Empowerment - University / community partnerships to assess, plan, and collaboratively meet needs.

Ø     Citizenship - Students become active stakeholders in the community.

Ø     Asset development as the communities become more aware of their strengths and resources.

Ø     Understanding and appreciation of diversity - across generations, cultures, perspectives, and abilities.

Source: Service Learning Outcomes from The Service Learning Planning and Resource Guide by The Council of Chief State School Officers, 1994.

BENEFITS FOR FACLTY

Ø     Provides opportunities for faculty to connect theoretical concepts to practical applications.

Ø     Moves faculty beyond professional engagement to civic engagement.
Creates a more engaged classroom learning environment through thoughtful discussion and critical thinking.

Ø     Provides for faculty professional development through innovative teaching, research and service (contributes to review, promotion and tenure process).

Ø     Creates forums for interdisciplinary collaboration

SUBMITTED BY: DEENA SUE FULLER

Director Center for service Learning and Civic Engagement

Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN

Characteristics of Service Learning

According to the National Commission on Service learning, service-learning:

• Links to academic content and standards
• Involves students in helping to determine and meet real, defined community needs
• Is reciprocal in nature, benefiting both the community and the service providers by combining a service experience with a learning experience
• Can be used in any subject area so long as it is appropriate to learning goals
• Works at all ages, even among young children

Service-learning is not:

• An episodic volunteer program
• An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum
• Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate
• Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators
• Only for high school or college students
• One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community

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.

Mission of the Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement: The Center exists to facilitate quality educational experiences through community-based service-learning. The Center connects campus and community resources to create diverse learning experiences and to serve community needs. Its programs integrate the academic, service, and reflection components of service-learning by providing resources — including training and technical assistance, to students, faculty and community. In doing this, the Center advances TSU’s goals of quality teaching, research, and service

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
– William Penn