What is service?

“It 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.” National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

“In service learning, students learn educational standards through tackling real-life problems in their community.” Edutopia

This sums it up:

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

What are the benefits?

• increases awareness of current societal issues and develops civic responsibility

• enriches the student learning experience and makes learning exciting and engaging

• strengthens the community, project, or people who are the recipients of the service-learning project

• makes learning relevant to students and helps to shape their life experiences and career choices

• broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking skills

Here are several ideas for service learning:

• Creating Community Sustainability through Urban Farming

• Work on a Habitat for Humanity building site

• Pack up food bags for the homeless

• Work with a neighborhood association

• Work with a political campaign

• Set up a tutoring system with younger students

• Clean up a local park highway or beach

• Launch a clean water awareness campaign

• Organize/assist with voter registration

There are four key components of a service-learning project: They are: (1) preparation, (2) action, (3) reflection, and (4) assessment. If you want your service learning to become a more meaningful experience, then these components should be included. (Not all organizations use these exact components in their service learning projects, but many are very similar to these.)