Why include service learning in academic courses?
Experience has the power to change lives. Our experiences – both positive and negative – have transformed our senses of self and interactions with our communities and world. Service learning provides academic and professional context in which students translate course-specific theory and knowledge into community participation and action. As engaged educators, we can continue to offer our students authentic opportunities to learn from experience and earn academic credit. In addition, direct engagement promotes personal growth. Research funded by the Corporation for National and Community service indicates authentic engagement via service learning enhances a student’s understanding and application of the content. A national study of Learn and Serve America programs suggests effective service-learning programs improve academic grades, increase attendance in school, and develop personal and social responsibility. Further, depending on the activity, service learning helps students learn cri
