Service Learning Benefits
How is service learning different from community service in relation to student growth?
Service learning allows student to network and socialize and benefit the student, and community service serves as a benefit to others.
Service-Learning is a method of teaching and learning that enriches the student's life by engaging him/her in meaningful hands-on service to address real-life needs in the community while also gaining valuable knowledge and skills that connect with classroom studies. Today there are over 4 million students, K through 12, who are improving their lives and the lives of people in their communities through Service-Learning (Youth Helping America Study, Learn and Serve, 2005).
As the proctor for the SBC-Houston campus of services learning, most of the students see the growth oppournity in to their field of choice is a reality to them. Most of ther services learning with the City of Houston have been offered job position for their work ethics on a service learning project. And that a lone have encourgaed a lot of students to engage themselves better at services learning.
With service learning they are getting a more "real industry" experience in where they will get a taste of what really happends in the real world.
Service learning is important to student growth in that it helps to connect them to a community and gives them a more broad point of view to operate. With the added perspective that comes with service learning, a student benefits in personally as well as educationally. The difference with community service and service learning in relation to student growth has to the basic difference in application.
Totally agree. Service learning is doing community service that is related to what they are learning in class and can help prepare the students for their future career
Serive learnign applies their specific skill set
Students are able to see the broader applications of the subjects they are learning and engage in very real personal outcomes that provide an immediate source of feedback and potentially gratitude.
I absolutely agree with you Pattara. I think our culinary students benefit the most when they "stage" in different restaurants, one time events, catering facilities, or just volunterring at places like Project Angel Food here in Los Angeles. The experience they get outside of the school is so valuable and often helps them understand the learning process even more. It also helps them make a decision as to what direction they want to go. It also builds confidence along with speed and accuracy. It's a win win!
In the culinary industry, sevice learning is a great way to for students to learn with hands on experience with the industry.
Service learning should have a specific connection between the job and the course of study of a student. It should come with precise credit value and be part of course curriculum. Community service is doing something for the community without necessarily haveing any educational value to a student.
It depends on the source of engagement. Service learning should be student driven and tap into their personal interests. Community service is someone telling the students what to do and trying to force engagement upon them.
Dear Deb,
Thank you for mentioning that it is paramount to have the service-learning event tied directly to student's curriculum. Great post.
Trent Bartholomew
With community service, there is more of a focus on the needs of the community or agency being served. If students get involved and happened to learn something, that is an added bonus.
However, service learning intentionally ties student learning to meeting needs within the community. Students' learning and application of their education are central and not just a happy coincidence. Service learning should tie directly to something within the students' curriculum. An example might be students in a desktop publishing course helping a non-profit agency produce a newsletter.
I understand that "service learning" was created to enhance the student's learning experience and give them the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a hands on practical manner. This is such an important part of their learning experience and is essential for their success. Every field of study should have "service learning" as part of their curriculum.
I would like to mention that when I take students on a "service learning" assignment, I observe that both the community and the students benefit equally.
Service learning is a new concept for me. Although I have heard the term used in several settings before, I always thought it was a new term for an old concept. Through this course, I have discovered some differences. Service learning involves the student in creation and application of concepts learned in class for the mutual benefit of both the student and the community. Teachers set guidelines that need to fit criterion that meets outcomes of the curriculum. Service learning helps students make connections between classroom content and real life as well as connections within the community and their future careers. High satisfaction and personal fulfillment are benefits for both the students and the community they have served.
While community service provides students with personal fulfillment and satisfaction, it does not necessarily originate with the student, nor does it necessarily fulfill a curriculum outcome. The benefits are primarily for the community and not for the student and the community as with service learning.
Community service target community needs and then works to meet those needs. Service learning is a teaching and learning experience. The students learn valuable skill in solving problems in their field of study. It also help the community by solving community problems. It also teach the students civic responsibilities.
Service learning allows students to follow their passion and choose opportunities that are mutually beneficial. As instructors we have the challenge of making the service part secondary to the knowledge gained by participating.
Service learning is a more structured entity than community service. Because of this, the onus of accountability is built into it. Students would have to report back to their college facilitator and formal growth (and assesment) could occur through paper-writing and discussions.
