Student Benefits
What are some benefits that students can get from service learning participation?
I thinks a major benefit that is often overlooked is "Networking" Several SL events have provided job leads and referals to students upon graduation. Some locations will take students during externship based on the performance during the SL event which turns into full time employment once they complete the program. I also find that once our students do a SL event then other community groups want us for their upcoming event. This benefits future students and keeps the events changing and expanding beyond what we had expected.
I agree with Carey. There is a huge value in networking. Our culinary students work side=-by-side with local chefs at many of the community events we participate in. This leads to externship sites and job offers.
Provide service to a segment of a community while providing opportunities for personal growth within each student.
Expand the understanding that students have of their career outcomes as a result of participating in such a program.
Provide exposure. Exposure is a critical element in career exploration and preparation.Help students with their personal growth.
I believe they gain more confidence in themselves and they believe in the route of life they have choosen for themselves. The student gains more support from the community and values their education in a different perspective.
•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
Promoting learning through active participation in service experiences;
Providing structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing and writing about their service experience;
Providing an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations;
Extending learning beyond the classroom and into the community; and
Fostering a sense of caring for others.
Students can gain skills in interacting with people in the community and develop personal branding that will help them be successful in the job market. In addition they may become aware of job opportunites that they previously were unaware of.
Studnets may also get to practice of their skills in a real life setting. In additon the idea of social responsibility and collabporation with others for a greater good is a valuable life lesson.
They get to take their classroom knowledge out into the community and make application of it to help others.This builds up students self-confidence and strengthens their social responsibility.
As a nursing instructors our students have administeted flu vaccines and taken vital signs at health centers. They feel good after doing this. They have accomplished adminsitering these skills to real people, not just practicing in the lab.
Interacting with community members supports personal growth, social responsibility and helps the student develop their personal brand. Obviously by being in the community job opportunities become visible to the student as well.
Similar to an internship, service learning might offer a chance for a student to practise skills they are learning in their program. In if the opportunity is not related to their program of study, they might also gain awareness of another field of study.
I believe it can be a great boost to their self-confidence. I particularly like the idea of "personal branding". In the medical field, it is so important to "shine" in your area of expertise, not just in obtaining a job, but also keeping that job. There is always going to be another applicant for Sonography. We need to ensure that our students "stand out" among the rest.
I think students see how much they have learned in the classroom when they're able to apply it in real life.
here is a list of benefits
1- Increase their understanding of the class topic
2- Gain hands-on experience (possibly leading to an internship or job later)
3- Explore or cement values and beliefs
4- Have opportunities to act on their values and beliefs
4- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
5- Grow understanding of diverse cultures and communities
6- Learn more about social issues and their root causes
7- Improve their ability to handle ambiguity and be open to change; become more flexible
8- Develop or enhance their skills, especially in the areas of communication, collaboration, and leadership
9- Test out their skills, interests, and values in a potential career path, or learn more about a field that interests them
10- Connect with professionals and community members who they will learn from
11- Grow a professional network of people they might connect with again later for jobs or internships
12- Satisfy their urge toward public service or civic participation
Dear IBRAHIM,
You have outlined some excellent points here. I particularly like numbers 7 and 8.
Trent Bartholomew
Service Learning provides the student the opportunity to develop his/her self-confidence and self/esteem.The student will also acquire social skills that will be beneficial in his /her chosen career and in the community as a whole.
Students not only get to practice their skills, vut are exposed to people/groups that are different than themselves. This opens their eyes to the different walks of society and forces them to interact, socially mature and become comfortable and aware and more sympathetic to others that are not in their immediate 'group'. Since they'll be exposed to 'all types' at work, this prepares them for the real world.
Also, the satisfaction of helping others is addictive to many people, so one service learning project often means that another will follow, creating a socially responsible student.
Some benefits that students can get from service learning participation provides the student the opportunity to develop his/her self-confidence and self/esteem.The student will also acquire social skills that will be beneficial in his /her chosen career and in the community as a whole.
Dario,
I think you mentioned one of the best benefits of service learning for our students: developing their self-confidence.
Trent Bartholomew
Students obtain confidence, self-worth, personal responsibility and networking opportunities while participating in Service Learning. Students come away with these benefits as well as a networking exercise. Many students will be applying for positions with some of these same "mentors" or site supervisors and participation goes so much futher than a simple 30-60 minute interview. Job knowledge, ability to follow direction, punctualitiy, communication skills and personality are put on display while participation occurs. Most sites/supervisors rarely get to see these first hand in a conventional interview.
They get to use classroom knowledge out in the community.This helps build students self-confidence and and more importantly, strengthens their social responsibility to the community
