Integrating Service-Learning in
Teaching and Professional
Development
Chris Fiorentino, Director
Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community
Engagement and Service-Learning
What is Service-Learning?
 Service-learning is a teaching and learning method
where students learn by active participation in
organized service that addresses community needs
and is linked to academic study through structured
reflection.
 The community needs may include direct service to
people in need, improvement of community
resources, applied research, community outreach and
education, or policy analysis and advocacy.
 The academic study may be in any discipline or
combination of fields.
Substantial research exists
documenting the power
of service-learning to
positively impact students,
faculty, and the community
served.
Student Personal Development
Service-learning has been shown to:
 Increase sense of personal efficacy
 Contribute to personal identity
 Impact moral development
 Improve leadership skills
 Effect communication abilities
Student Social Outcomes
Service-learning has been shown to:
 Reduce stereotypes
 Improve racial understanding
 Increase sense of social responsibility
and citizenship skills
 Heighten commitment to service
 Increase involvement in volunteerism
after graduation
Impact on Student Learning
Service-learning has been shown to:
 Positively impact academic learning
 Accentuate ability to apply what is
learned to “real world” settings
 Improve demonstrated complexity of
understanding, critical thinking and
cognitive development
Student Career Development
Service-learning has been shown to
contribute to the many phases of
students’ career development, including
career identification, developing
professional networks, enhancing
resume and improved ratings of career
satisfaction
Relationship with Institution
Service-learning has been shown to:
 Improve student satisfaction with the
college experience
 Raise graduation rates of students
involved (IRAP/OIE Study)
 Increase the likelihood that students
will contribute financially to their alma
mater after graduation
Faculty Benefits
Faculty who utilize service-learning
report:
 Satisfaction with quality of student
learning
 Commitment to research
 Increased propensity to integrate
service-learning into other classes
 The downside….
Community Benefits
Community partners report that their
involvement with Fresno State
community service-learning efforts:
 Improved capacity to serve clients
 Provide benefits that outweigh the cost
 Outcomes exceed initial expectations
 Overall agencies were extremely pleased
with services provided by students
The Transformative Power of SL
Why Reflection?
 Without reflection, service-learning has little
merit as an instructional tool.
 It is through the process of structuring and
guiding a student’s reflective process where
teachers can help students extract lessons from
their community experiences.

Reflection is generally considered to be the
most critical step in linking the service & learning
components of a service-learning course.
Reflection: The essential ingredient
Setting the Stage & Providing Feedback
Providing for Gender Balance
What about Service-Learning & RTP?
 Gelmon & Agre-Kippenhan Article
 Jendian “By the Numbers” Document
Service-Learning Assistance
 Jan & Bud Richter Center
(www.csufresno.edu/cesl)
 Faculty Service-Learning Modules
(www.csufresno.edu/facultysl)
 Workshops and Seminars
 Faculty Service-Learning Mentor
 Community Partnerships Coordinator