How does UNOs service-learning program differ from high school programs?
Many high schools recommend or require that their students participate in community service. Usually, students volunteer at community agencies, then reflect on the experience, often by writing about it or by making a brief presentation to classmates. At the K-12 level, service-learning is typically something students do in addition to taking classes. At the university level, service-learning is typically an activity students undertake in the context of their classes. Since it’s important that service-learning activities meet the needs of the community (as defined by the community) and advance the students’ understanding of the course content (as defined by the professor), the activities may require more collaborative planning. Another difference between K-12 and university-level service-learning is, of course, that university students are adults, so they can contribute to the community through a wider variety of activities to which they bring greater skills and judgment.
