Tennessee State University
Service Learning
and Civic
Engagement
What is Service-Learning and
Why Is It Important???
Dr. Deena Sue Fuller
Director of ServiceLearning and Civic
Engagement
Tennessee State
University
This country cannot afford to educate
a generation that acquires knowledge
without ever understanding how that
knowledge can benefit society or how
to influence democratic decisionmaking. (From The Campus
Compact Presidents’ Declaration on
the Civic Responsibility of Higher
Education.)
What distinguishes servicelearning from other forms of
experiential education?
Service-Learning involves a
balance between learning
goals and service
outcomes.
SL is a Type of Experiential Education
Community
Service
BENEFICIARY
Student
FOCUS
Learning
SERVICE-LEARNING
COMMUNITY SERVICE
EDUCATION
VOLUNTEERISM
FIELD
PRACTICUM
What is ServiceLearning???
• Service-Learning is a method of
teaching that enriches learning
by engaging students in
meaningful service to their
universities or communities
through careful integration with
established curricula.
Service-Learning
Service-Learning is a teaching method
which combines community service with
academic instruction as it focuses on
critical, reflective thinking and civic
responsibility. Service-learning programs
involve students in organized community
service that addresses local needs, while
developing their academic skills, sense of
civic responsibility, and commitment to the
community.
(Campus Compact)
Look at the definitions and circle or highlight
the words that are meaningful to you.
Student Learning
Meaningful Service
THIS is Service-Learning
National Commission
on Service-Learning
“…a teaching and learning approach
that integrates community service
with academic study to enrich
learning, teach civic responsibility,
and strengthen communities.”
Service-learning is a structured learning
experience that combines community
service with preparation and reflection.
Students engaged in service-learning
provide community service in response
to community-identified concerns and
learn about the context in which service
is provided, the connection between
their service and their academic
coursework, and their roles as citizens.
Community service example
If students remove trash from a
streambed:
they are providing a service to the
community as volunteers
Service-learning example
• When students, who are taking an
environmental education course, remove trash
from a streambed,
• analyze what they found,
• share the results and offer suggestions for the
neighborhood to reduce pollution,
• and then reflect on their experience and the
impact of their service
THAT is service-learning!
WHY
SERVICE-LEARNING??
If effectively implemented….
Service-learning has many benefits
for students, faculty, community
members, and universities, alike.
STUDENT BENEFITS
• Reported increased learning and motivation
• Deeper understanding of subject matter and
complex social issues
• Ability to apply course material in “real life”
situations
• Opportunity to learn from classmates’ experiences
• Opportunities for collaboration and leadership
experiences
• Teaches job skills and prepares students for
careers after college
• Promotes deeper learning; there are no "right
answers" in the back of the book
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
• Additional energy, enthusiasm, and
resources for problem-solving
• Improved relationship with university
and access to university resources
• Opportunity to recruit students as long
term volunteers
• Future staff potential
UNIVERSITY BENEFITS
• Opportunity to be a model servicelearning program for other universities
• Improved student retention and school
to work transition
• Improved standing in the community
• Demonstrate action for the public good
Service-Learning
helps students understand:
• how communities function,
• the kinds of problems they face,
• the strength and richness of diversity,
and
• the importance of individual
commitments of time and energy to
enhancing community life.
Service-Learning
• contributes to civic learning
• encourages a sense of civic
responsibility
• reduces stereotypes
• strengthens the ability to
empathize with others
• promotes a more democratic
citizenry
Is service –learning the
same as
•
•
•
•
•
•
Field Experiences?
Internships?
Co-ops?
Community Service?
Volunteerism?
internships
Service-learning is not:
• An episodic volunteer program
• An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum
• Completing minimum service hours in order to graduate
• Service assigned as a form of punishment
• Only for high school or college students
• One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community
Common characteristics of
authentic service-learning
• positive, meaningful and real to the participants
• cooperative rather than competitive experiences;
promotes teamwork and citizenship
• addresses complex problems in complex settings rather
than simplified problems in isolation
• engages problem-solving in the specific context of service
activities and community challenges, rather than
generalized or abstract concepts from a textbook
The Seven Elements of High-Quality
Service-learning
1.Integrated Learning- clearly articulated learning
outcomes
2. High Quality Service- meet actual community
need
3. Collaboration- all partners benefit and contribute
4. Student Voice- students actively plan &
participate
5. Civic Responsibility- contribute to and impacts
the community
6. Reflection- connect service & academic learning
7. Evaluation- measure learning & service goals
Civic Responsibility
- The service-learning project promotes students’
responsibility to care for others and to contribute
to the community.
- By participating in the service-learning project,
students understand how they can affect their
community in positive ways.
Reflection
- Reflection establishes connections between
students’ service experiences and the
academic/developmental learning curriculum.
- Reflection occurs before, during, and after the
service-learning project.
Learn more about servicelearning
•
•
•
•
•
www.servicelearning.org
Campus Compact (compact.org)
www.tsuservicelearning.com
TN Campus Compact
Corporation for National and Community
Service (cns.gov)
• Campus-Community Partnerships for Health
Resources
• Campus Compact (www.compact.org)
– Sample syllabi in a wide variety of
disciplines
– Curriculum guides and publications
– Professional development opportunities
– Grants and awards
Service Learning Classes
English
Chemistry
History
Geography
Music
Honors
Nursing
Design
Education
Early Childhood
Psychology
Engineering
Health
Phys. Edu.
Communications
Dental Hygiene
Occupational Therapy
Speech Pathology
Public Service & Urban Affairs
Consumer Sciences
Diversity of Service Learning
Projects
Institute
of
Government
Engineering
Consumer
Sciences
Arts &
Sciences
Service
Learning
Education
Business
Nursing
Health
Sciences
Cross-Disciplinary
Collaborations
Dental
Screening
& Cleaning
Nursing
Grace
Eaton
Daycare
Speech &
Hearing
Physical
Therapy
Health
Education
Early
Childhood
Education
Cross Disciplinary
Education Programs
Literacy
Programs
Computer Skills
After-School Tutoring
Education
Mentoring
Community
Chorus
Community Needs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tutors
Mentors
Program development
Technology assistance
Advocacy
Training
Needs Assessments
Discipline-specific assistance