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Why Should IUse Service-Learning in My Classroom?
Benefits forStudents
Student involved in service-learningas part of their regular curricular program gain in at least fourareas: Self Esteem, Citizenship, Academic Skills, and CareerEducation.
- Self Esteem &endash; students earn a sense of empowerment by engaging in community service where they are needed, valued and respected.
- Citizenship - students learn that citizenship requires an actively engaged community life.
- Academic Skills &endash; students' desire to learn is heightened by their experience in community service. They learn to connect the classroom experience with life in the community. Students learn the relevance of academic subject matter from science and mathematics to the social sciences and humanities. Students reflect on important moral and ethical issues.
- Career Education &endash; students directly experience the world of work.
Benefits forTeachers
- The curriculum is broadened and deepened to create a richer context for learning.
- As students gain responsibility for their learning, teachers gain new roles as mentors and guides as well as presenters of information.
- Service-learning required performance-based methods of evaluation.
- Staff collegiality improves as staff work together in an active learning environment.
- Mutually beneficial school/community partnerships are formed.
Benefits forSchools
Service-learning brings directbenefits to schools as well. School personnel have been strugglingthe last few years to implement the recommendations of various schoolreform movements. Whatever the issues, most schools are trying tomake the curriculum more relevant. They are trying to increase theacademic performance of their students to compete in today'stechnically complex world, and at the same time they are trying tomake responsible citizens of their students. Teachers who haveimplemented service-learning in their curriculum have found that theservice-learning format allows them a ready means of usingcooperative groups, thematic teaching and higher level thinkingskills.
Because most service-learningactivities are directed at community needs, the community becomesaware of what the schools are doing in the community. This can resultin better public support for the schools as citizens realize whatservices are being offered and can also result in more directparental involvement in school programs.
Benefits to theCommunity
Community residents served by aservice-learning project benefit from direct assistance and personalempowerment that is generated through the involvement of youngpeople. The students become invested in their community as a resultof the knowledge and experience they gained in their serviceprojects. Underfunded community agencies benefit through theenthusiasm and hard work of the participating students. Perhaps themost beneficial aspect of service-learning to the community is thechange of attitude that the community develops toward its youngpeople. Young people are not thought of as potential communityproblems but are thought of as the community's greatestresource.
*The benefits outlined here are takenfrom Growing Hope: A Sourcebook on Integrating Youth Service intothe School Curriculum.
