AN INTRODUCTION TO
SERVICE- LEARNING
CPAL
WHAT IS SERVICE-LEARNING?
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.
DIFFERENTIATING SERVICE-LEARNING
FROM OTHER FORMS OF EDUCATION
• Experiential Learning: The knowledge and skills acquired
through life, work experience and study which have not
been formally attested through any educational or
professional certification.
• Internship: A work-related learning experience for
individuals who wish to develop hands on work experience
in a certain occupational field
• Practicum: A college course that is designed to give
students supervised practical application of a previously
studied theory
EXAMPLES OF SERVICE-
LEARNING
• In a course on creating business plans, students could
design actual business plans for a non-profit start-up.
• In a course on data management, students could help a
community partner with data management needs.
• In a course on community health, students could come up
with ideas to advocate healthy eating habits for
adolescents and find ways to implement them.
WHAT ARE SOME COMPONENTS OF
SERVICE-LEARNING?
Most students work for not-for-profit partner (must be faculty approved)
The service-learning project should clearly integrate the topics being covered in
the class curriculum
The project students complete should benefit the community and the student
The project needs clearly identified learning objectives
The students should be required to reflect on and evaluate their Service-Learning
project and objectives
WHO BENEFITS FROM SERVICE-
LEARNING?
Commun
Students Faculty ity
Partners
The Commun
Site Staff Universit ity at
y Large
WHERE DOES SERVICE-
LEARNING TAKE PLACE?
Service-learning takes place
both inthe classroom and in
the community.
WHAT ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR
ORGANIZING AND CONSTRUCTING A
SERVICE-LEARNING COURSE?
Reflection: Is there a mechanism that encourages
students to link their service experience to course
content and to reflect upon why the service is
important?
Reciprocity: Is reciprocity evident in the service
component?
TYPES OF SERVICE
VOLUNTEERISM COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVICE LEARNING
providing service for no a non-paying job performed an educational approach that
financial or social gain by one person or a group of combines learning objectives with
people for the benefit of the community service to provide a
community or its institutions pragmatic, progressive learning
experience while meeting societal
needs.
TRIPOD OF SERVICE
LEARNING
Knowled Educatio Experien
ge n ce
SERVANT LEADERSHIP
By comparison, the servant-leader shares
power, puts the needs of others first and helps
people develop and perform as highly as
possible.
Servant leadership turns the power pyramid
upside down; instead of the people working to
serve the leader, the leader exists to serve the
people.
