Benefits of Academic Service Learning

Research indicates that students learn most effectively by hands-on experience, discussion, and teaching others. Faculty can better facilitate student learning by using service-learning in the classroom.

+ Kolb, 1984; The Learning Pyramid, National Training Lab, Bethel, ME

Much national research has shown the benefits of service-learning. According to recent studies, students’ academic learning, civic values, efficacy, and interpersonal development show substantial growth when enrolled in classes that incorporate service-learning in the curriculum.

+ Astin and Sax, 1998; Eyler, Giles and Braxton, 1997

The Multiple Beneficiaries of service-learning

Service-learning offers benefits that impact students, faculty, and the community by enriching the experience of everyone involved. Professional development or experiential education focuses on the student’s benefit. Community service focuses on the community’s benefit.

Student Benefits

• Engages students in active learning that demonstrates the relevance and importance of academic work for their life experience and career choices.
• Broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking skills.
• Improves interpersonal skills that are increasingly viewed as important skills in achieving success in professional and personal spheres.
• Increases awareness of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest.
• Develops civic responsibility through active community involvement.
• Increases relevance of academic skills through hands-on use of skills and knowledge.
• Increases sense of self-efficacy, analytical skills, and social development.
• Accommodates different learning styles.

Faculty and Institution Benefits

• Fosters inspiration and invigoration of teaching methods.
• Increases student contact through greater emphasis on student-centered teaching.
• Offers a new perspective on learning and increased understanding of how learning occurs.
• Connects the community with curriculum and fosters awareness of current societal issues as they relate to academic areas of interest.
• Identifies areas of research and publication related to current trends and issues.
• Increases opportunities for professional recognition and reward.

Community Benefits

• Provides substantial human resources to meet education, human safety, and environmental needs of local communities.
• Allows the energy and enthusiasm of college students to contribute to meeting community needs.
• Fosters an ethic of service and civic participation in students who will be tomorrow’s volunteer and civic leaders.
• Creates potential for additional partnerships and collaboration with the campus community.

For more information relating to studies concerning the effectiveness of service-learning as well as other useful information, visit the National service-learning Clearinghouse website at www.servicelearning.org. In addition, the Michigan Journal of Community service-learning (Fall 1994 to the present) is available at Student Involvement.

For a personal consultation about applying service-learning in your courses, contact the Student Involvement Service-Learning & Volunteer Services Team at 472-2454.