Definition of Service-Learning
“Service-Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities”
National Service Learning Clearinghouse, 2012
Goal
To enhance student learning through an integrated approach that amalgamates academic knowledge and organized service to address community-identified priorities.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Learn: Examine responsible and inclusive strategies for advancing sustainable communities. (Competencies: Decision Making, Analysis, Evaluation, Social Justice, Social Responsibility).
- Serve: Demonstrate skills that convey a reciprocal relationship between the course鈥檚 discipline and the identified community priority (Competencies: Service, Others鈥� Circumstances, Appropriate Interaction)
- Reflect: Articulate the relationship between course content and service-learning experience through guided critical reflection assignments (Competencies: Reflection)
Mission
The Service-Learning program is dedicated to the integration of academic knowledge and an organized service activity to address community priorities and enhance pre-professional skills.
History
A brief timeline of service-learning highlights at 糖心Vlog!
- 2006: Informal service projects recognized/begin on campus
- 2008: Service-Learning staff position created in the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement
- Fall 2008: 糖心Vlog joins Campus Compact
- 2010: Service-Learning Faculty Fellows program established
- Fall 2011: Service-Learning Student Facilitators established
- Fall 2012: Formal course training for student leaders implemented
- 2013: Georgia Southern wins a NASPA excellence award for Service-Learning
- 2015: Rachel Paule wins award for Outstanding Student contribution to Service-Learning at the Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning
- April 2016: Georgia Southern hosts the Gulf South Summit on Service-Learning
- Spring 2017: Eagle Showcase: Excellence in Service-Learning developed to exhibit service-learning projects across campus
- 2018: Service-Learning Program celebrates 10 years!
- 2019: Student Service-Learning Mini Grants introduced
- 2021: Service-Learning Dashboard established
- 2022: Implementation of campus-wide Service-Learning course designation
Volunteer vs. Service-Learning
| Community Service/Volunteerism | Service-Learning |
| Students pick-up trash in a local park. | Environmental Biology students pick-up trash in a local park and research the effects of litter on surrounding ecosystems. They present their findings to the class. |
| Students volunteer at a nursing home. | Students record the life stories of residents living at a nursing home and submit the biographies as an assignment for their Creative Writing class. |
| Students teach English to migrant workers living in their community. | Political science students teach English to migrant workers and then have an in-class debate about whether immigrants should be required to learn English. |
Models of Service-Learning
| Model | Definition | Example |
| Direct | Interaction between students and a community partner staff or clients | Interact with seniors at a living facility, teach a health concept, read to young children |
| Indirect | Students will not need to weekly visit the community partner site to complete these projects | Create marketing and advertising pieces, write grant documents, and write a strategic plan |
| Community-based Research | Engage the expertise of the community partner, faculty, and student to address a pressing community issue for an organization | Assessment of community needs, land mapping, water testing for residents |
| Advocacy | Students create awareness and promote action on a local issue | Plan/participate in advocacy activities, public speaking, and conducting public information campaigns |