Service Learning Benefits
How is service learning different from community service in relation to student growth?
Service learning is different from community service in that community service benefits the facility and students may not get any learning out of offering community service. Service learning is a two way success, students will learn and the facility will gain volunteer work.
Hi Wania.
Thank you for your post. You have made the important connection between community service and service learning. You correctly pointed out that community service is meant to serve the organization and not necessarily the students.
Trent Bartholomew
Community service is often forced or coerced. Community Service is also focused on what can be accomplished for the community. Student learning creates learning opportunities for Students that are developed from community needs. Community projects are selected that fit the learning objectives of the students and both sides benefit.
The Student gains experience, knowledge and an enhanced sense of community involvement. The community benefits from free labor and the development of responsible citizens who are personally committed to building the community.
Dear LE,
Thank you for mentioning the coerced aspect since it is an on-going issue at many schools today. You have a good point regarding the benefit of service-learning opportunities as long as they are tied to objectives.
Trent Bartholomew
I feel as if service learning is made in order for the student to get more involved in what they plan on doing in the future, as in their career, whereas community service is work done by the student on their own just to help out and give back to the community and help it prosper.
In service learning student growth is directed and facilitated toward objectives of the course or program in which the student is enrolled. Done well, faculty who supervise service learning can them create events to determine students progress toward those objectives and deliver feedback to students.
Community service is comparatively undirected and therefore the potential benefits to participants are ancillary to the community impact of the service.
• Helps to transfer knowledge and skills from the classroom to the community.
• Engages students in real and positive ways. They get to "practice" their skill sets under supervision while they are expanding their expertise.
It allows the community and the college to bond together, helps grow the student population, and the community feels involved in the college.
Service-learning is a method of teaching, learning and reflecting that combines academic classroom curriculum with meaningful service. Where community service are work programs that place students in positions that will benefit the clients of community service organizations
•Increase your understanding of the class topic
•Gain hands-on experience (possibly leading to an internship or job later)
•Explore or cement your values and beliefs
•Have opportunities to act on your values and beliefs
•Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
•Grow your understanding of diverse cultures and communities
Community service focuses on the benefits of the community, whereas service learning focuses on enhancing the learning of students while enriching the community.Students get to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills in the real-world settings. They get exposure to what they will encounter once they have graduated.
We sent students to a homeless health day in the community. The students that went felt so good about what they were doing and they really were proud of themselves and their schools. They weren't forced to go and it turned out to be a really amazing day for all involved.
first here is the definition of the Service-Learning; 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.
for example;
If school students collect trash out of an urban streambed, they are providing a valued service to the community as volunteers. If school students collect trash from an urban streambed, analyze their findings to determine the possible sources of pollution, and share the results with residents of the neighborhood, they are engaging in service-learning.
In our latest service learning activity, students were doing hands-on activities with large numbers of actual patients. The rushed atmosphere and seriousnes of having 'real' patients forced them to take themselves seriously- the result was that they found out how much they knew, didn't know, improved dramatically on their skills, etc. The volunteers of that activity came out feeling satisfied with what they'd accomplished for the community, but most of all- they impressed themselves with their skills! We've noticed that after students participated in service learning activities, they're much more likely to sign up for other community-related activites (Habitat for Humanity, etc.). These students become confident in themselves, participate more in school and are motivated in their career choices.
Community service has a perception by the individual providing the service as being helpful, having students introduced to service learning not only allows them the helpful component, it more importantly allows them the opportunity to apply their skill/craft and reinforce the education components.
Sevice learning differs from community service in relation to student growth because it Increase your understanding of the class topic. Students gain hands-on experience which can also lead to a possibly externship or job in the furture. Student explore and learn new values and beliefs along with understanding diverse cultures and communities.
Community Service is focused on what can be accomplished for the community. Student learning creates learning opportunities for Students that are developed from community needs. The student should participate in a combination of both
I think students feel community service may be forced. Some state it is an obligation and that is not what you want them to bring into the situation. Service learning gives them the opportunity to see how their chosen career path can benefit the community, while allowing them to enhance their skill set.
I totally agree, I used to work for a medical facility and we would do community service. We should check blood pressures, cholesterol and other health screenings. I believe the community really appreciated our work.
