How Does Service Learning Encourage Students

What Is Service Learning?

SERVICE LEARNING | 3 MIN READ

Service Learning is an educational approach where a student learns theories in the classroom and at the same time volunteers with an agency (usually a not-profit or social service group) and engages in reflection activities to deepen their understanding of what is being taught.

Information technology is a cycle of theories, practices, and reflection tools to broaden knowledge and disquisitional thinking skills for social modify.

Yous might commonly hear information technology related to terms such as civic engagement, community evolution, advancement, philanthropy, social change, volunteerism, community service and experiential learning.

As a outcome of service learning, students larn more nigh the community and themselves while fulfilling a need in the community and meeting classroom or degree requirements.

Students in any subject can participate. The courses are usually most directly tied to social science courses (for case: political science, sociology, ecology studies and psychology) and pre-professional courses (for example: teaching, social piece of work and business).

What Are Some Examples of Service Learning Projects?

Service Learning involves almost any helping activeness. We generally refer to direct service to individuals, indirect service to people, and advancement piece of work.

Direct service includes tutoring, serving meals, working with patients, helping a refugee family, walking foster dogs, or participating in events at a nursing home. Many psychology and education courses comprise direct service.
Indirect service is doing something backside the scenes to help, such every bit organizing a fundraising event, working in a resale shop, stocking a food pantry, collecting donations or planting trees to help the environment. Fields such as ecology studies and sociology tend to offer more indirect service opportunities.
Advocacy tin accept the class of students writing letters to government officials, demonstrating in a sentinel line or educating others most possible policy changes. Political science and criminal justice classes often feature more advocacy work.

Why is Service Learning Important?

For starters, service learning is important because it connects student learning in the classroom with real-world experiences in the community. Students who participate in it are more deeply engaged in their local communities, gain practical skills, develop their career and personal interests, and are usually more than engaged citizens.

At a societal level, it is important for people to be involved and aware of their communities so they can assist each other and exist more conscientious individuals. Creating opportunities for young people increases their involvement.

Finally, it instills the addiction of performing a service for others. Students who engage early often go on service work for the rest of their lives.

How Do I Detect Opportunities Near Me?

Most colleges and universities maintain partnerships with customs groups, governmental agencies and service organizations. Making use of their resources is a great fashion to get started.

At Elmhurst University, the service learning webpage lists more than than 60 community partners in need of student volunteers. Students who wish to count this work every bit service learning can speak to staff nearly classes or contained report options and so they can also appoint in theoretical learning and reflection activities.

How Do I Benefit as a Pupil?

Through service learning, students:

Learn more about their relationship with the communities they engage with
Larn more about their capacity for serving others
Refine their controlling abilities and acquire other career-related skills
Better understand the meaning of responsible citizenship
Abound in their awareness of cultural differences

Explore Elmhurst University

The Elmhurst University Service Learning program matches students who feel a responsibility to serve the community with opportunities to help. Visit our Community Partners page to learn more, and follow u.s. on Instagram or Facebook.

Want to learn more? Request information today!