Service Learning Basics
Gavilan College, 2014
What is Service-Learning?

“Service-learning is a form of
experiential education in which students
engage in activities that address human
and community needs together with
structured opportunities intentionally
designed to promote student learning and
development. Reflection and reciprocity
are key concepts of service learning.”
(Jacoby, 1996, p.5)
 Service
is meaningful and intentionally
associated with learning objectives of the
course AND meeting a need of the
partner.
 Service
enables students and faculty to
reflect on how knowledge from the
discipline informs and shapes the
service experience and vice versa.

At Gavilan College service learning is when
students go into the community to do work
related to what they learn in class.
• It allows students, faculty, and community organizations to
work together to everyone's benefit.
• Classes are enriched and made real when students apply
what they are learning at non-profits in their own
communities. Faculty are challenged to update and enrich
their teaching.
• And social service agencies benefit when students come
in to do projects, bringing fresh perspectives to their
work
 The
Gavilan College
Service Learning Program
provides avenues for
students, faculty, and
partner organizations
to promote justice,
diversity, and social
responsibility by
integrating academic experiences with
service.

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Volunteering – doing good deeds, altruism
Internship – experiential education designed to
assimilate and demonstrate mastery of skills for
professional development and/or licensure
Placement – “dropping” students off at a site
hoping you’ll harvest some learning
An “add on” – all courses have an expectation
and requirement of “out of class” work. SL is part
of that expectation.

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Loads of extra work for teachers--after some
up-front preparation, most classes run on
auto pilot for years
Loads of extra work for students--it’s another
assignment to take seriously and to work on
completing
An add-on to enhance a class --think integral
and integration
Service Learning CAN BE:
--whole class does a project for/with one agency
--three or four agencies offer similar projects for
groups of students
--whole class does project of community benefit,
such as park clean-up or trail clearing
Service Learning CAN also BE:
--student work with clients at an agency
--work with class-relevant projects such as
nitrogen-cycle measurements at an agency
--work with class-relevant projects such as
cosmetology services out in the community
--research that an agency needs done, publication
--research that the community needs done,
publication
Triangulation of Service-Learning
Study
Head
Reflection
Action
Heart
Hands
Benefits
for students
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A reduction in negative stereotypes
Greater self-knowledge
Enhanced interpersonal & leadership skills
Increased awareness of the community
Deeper understanding of subject matter
Better integration of class concepts to
authentic issues
Useful service to the community
Enhanced relations between to college and
community
Benefits
for faculty
Refreshes teaching
 Helps students apply
concepts
 Helps students apply skills
 Makes subject matter real
 Updates faculty on realworld applications
 Allows faculty knowledge
of and service to the
community

Putting Service-Learning into
Practice
Objectives
Assessment
Partnerships
Reflection
Engagemen
t
•Building long-term
relationships
•Emphasizing good
communication