Essential Elements of Service-Learning
What is Service Learning?
Service learning combines community service with formal coursework in a way that both responds to community-identified needs and helps students meet academic, social, civic and moral learning goals. Service learning enables students to grow and learn through active participation in community service activities that are clearly connected to their academic program. Through service learning, students learn about themselves and their relationship to the world and community around them. Service learning allows students to engage in real-world issues and social problems, and helps them to work with community organizations to become "part of the solution." Through their community involvement, students gain an understanding of community issues, community assets and community processes for making change happen. Service learning helps students learn and care about others, and develop the skills and attitudes to become community builders in our rapidly changing, diverse world.
Service learning is distinguished from other approaches to experiential learning because it:
- Insists that students reflect on their community service experience in a formal manner
- Attempts to balance the benefits to the student and to the community organization
- Emphasizes the social, civic and moral learning that results from reflective community service involvement
What a Service Learner Is and Is Not…
A service learner:
- Enrolls in courses identified with an "SL" suffix in the SDSU course catalogue
- Attends classes and also provide service to a community organization for a specified amount of time during the semester
- Addresses community - identified needs in his/her service placements
- Is involved in activities at the community site that provide meaningful experience related to the content of their course
- Reads articles and books to become more informed about the issues addressed at the community service site
- Engages in critical reflection on the community service experience as part of classroom activities
A service learner is NOT:
- A volunteer - available to respond to any need for support that the organization may have (clerical, administrative, etc.)
- An intern - whose primary purpose is to develop specific skills related to a specific technical field or profession
Key Elements of a Service Learning Experience
Reciprocity: The service and learning must be worthwhile and valuable for both the student and the community. There must be reciprocity between the server and those served.
Reflection: Intentional, systematic reflection about the experience must take place in order to maximize the benefit of service learning experiences. Reflection within the context of the service experience encourages introspection of other aspects of the student's life. Reflection is the critical process to link service and academic learning objectives.
Integration: Service activities need to be directly related to the student's academic learning objectives in order to strengthen student's critical thinking.
Diversity: A priority is placed on involving a broad cross-section of students working in diverse settings and with diverse populations within the community. Service helps students overcome stereotypes and fears, and develop skills as multicultural community participants.