Student Benefits
What are the major benefits of service learning participation for career college students?
The Benefits of service learning is it gives students also a since a pride in their community as well as their school.
Dear Wania,
Your comment in indeed the goal of service learning. For many students, this may be their first time giving back to a community.
Thank you for paricipating in this course.
All my best,
Trent Bartholomew
Students can have a sense of accomplishment, having participated in a service learning project
Hi Linda.
You are quite right. In addition, many of our instructors have reported that they saw their students' attitudes also improve with each service-learning event.
Trent Bartholomew
The major benefits of service learning participation for career college students is that they may be able to gain knowledge over time throughout the service learning, and also may be granted internships as well.
Dear Abdul,
This is an excellent point. We hope that our students may gain both a valuable experience during their service-learning event and an opportunity to gain potential externship opportunities.
Trent Bartholomew
Service learning benefits students in the areas of skill development, practical application of knowledge and self-efficacy. The positive growth in these areas will further affect their employability as they go through job interviews and where they must confidently communicate their skill sets.
Dear Kim,
You are quite correct. We have encouraged our students to incorporate their service-learning experiences into their resumes and interviews. We have also seen what a tremendous benefit service learning has been to building up their self-confidence level.
Trent Bartholomew
Their critical thinking and problem solving skills are expanded and refined.
Their interpersonal skills are expanded as well.
These efforts also expand their sense of civic responsibility, citizenship, and social consciousness—all of which will serve them well when they are out working in their community.
Personal growth is an outcome of service learning.
They are building a network that they need to refine and utilize.
Exploration of career pathways is another benefit that comes with being out into the community and doing service work.
Personal branding is a major part of career development. Personal branding is the meshing of one's personality, knowledge, and skills into the professional that one is becoming.
I agree. Students do have a better sense of accomplishment and they also enjoy helping the community. They perceive the service learning project as fun, therefore retain more from it. They have a better sense of self worth and confidence.
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.
Robert,
One of the best responses I have read so far. You have touched on an excellent outcome of service learning and one which our students so desperately need in the community: personal and professional branding.
Trent Bartholomew
Gaining real life experience and forging connections in the community both can be the results of a well run service learing program. Emplopyers now are starting to look for service learning on resumes and that experience can increase employability for the studnt.
Dear Ellen,
Thanks for mentioning the importance of putting SL events on resumes. We have stressed this idea at our schools, too.
Trent Bartholomew
A huge benefit for students is that they have the opportunity to implement critical thinking skills and problem solving skills in a real world scenerio that they would not have been able to do in the classroom. Upon doing this, students can see the benefits of the knowldege that they have aquired while in school.
I agree that the projects will give students pride in their community as well as their school and provide for further networking and perhaps job placements.
Service learning looks great on a resume. Since most students will be very engaged and find their passion for their career during service learning, they'll be able to speak passionately during a job interview, which is a big positive mark from an employer's standpoint. Also, their social maturity and awareness will be elevated, and they'll get to practice the theory learned in class. They'll also get the recognition of being a graduate of a school who is active in the community, and has the reputation of training their students in the 'real world'.
Dear Ann,
Thank you for drawing the strong link between service learning and job interviews.
Trent Bartholomew
Service-learning is a 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 and benefits of service learning participation for career college students.
