“It's a good way for students to get out of the classroom and try to do what we learn hands on.”
—Carla Jasso, SSU service-learner
Impact of Service-Learning on Students
Goals for students in service-learning classes may include:
- Students have the opportunity to do what they are learning in class through experiential education
- Students have deeper understanding of self and their involvement in the community
- Students are more aware of issues in the community and develop a sense of responsibility to address those issues
- Students are exposed to diverse communities therefore dispelling misconceptions
- Students have a shared experience and opportunity to develop classroom cohesiveness
- Students develop civic responsibility and plan for future involvement
Research has shown that service-learning impacts students.
- Learning Outcomes
- Increases academic learning
- Increases ability to apply what they've learned in real world
- Some studies show a positive impact and some no impact on grades and GPA
- Increases critical thinking and problem analysis skills
- Some studies show a positive impact and some no impact on cognitive moral development
- Personal Outcomes
- Increases personal efficacy
- Increases understanding of identity
- Supports spiritual growth
- Supports moral development
- Supports interpersonal development such as team work, leadership, and communication skills
- Social Outcomes
- Reduces or supports stereotyping
- Facilitates cultural and racial understanding
- Increases social responsibility, activism and citizenship skills
- Increases commitment to service
- Service in college is associated with involvement in service after graduation
- Career Development
- Relationship with institution
- Stronger faculty relationships
- Improves student satisfaction with college
- Increases graduation rates
- Impact of service-learning classes with a political focus
- Both students with an interest in politics and those without experience significant gains in just about every dimension of every civic learning
- Students with little prior interest in the political process have larger and more consistent gains in civic learning
- No impact on political ideology
- No impact on political party affiliation2
1From At a Glance: What We Know About the Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities.Janet S. Eyler, Dwight E. Giles, Jr., Christine M. Stenson, and Charlene J. Gray. Contact the CCE to request a viewing.
2The Place of Political Learning in College Anne Colby.Spring/Summer 2008 Peer Review. Contact the CCE for a hard copy of the entire Peer Review issue.
Contact the CCE for a hard copy of the entire Peer Review issue.
