"In the Service of What?" by Kahne and Westheimer
"The ability of a service learning curriculum to foster authentic, experience-based learning opportunities, to motivate students, to help students engage in higher-order thinking in contextually varied environments, and to promote interdisciplinary studies "
This quote explains how service learning really helps motivate students to work harder and focus. They benefit from having an extra helping hand to explain concepts and encourage students to try their best. When in small groups or one on one, they stay motivated and interested in the topic.
"The experiential and interpersonal components of service learning activities can achieve the first crucial step toward diminishing the sense of "otherness" that often separates students-particularly privileged students-from those in need."
Service learning can help dissolve that "line" separating well educated students and under privileged students. Both groups can benefit from each other by sharing cultural characteristics and their different ways of learning. This helps them realize that even though they are probably from a different economic or social class, there is still a lot in common.
"Service activities should develop student's learning at public speaking, recruiting other students, organizing meetings, analyzing problems. developing action plans. and conducting evaluations."
A student can benefit from a lot if they include themselves in service learning. Besides the fact that they help others, they will be able to improve their confidence not only to help others but in their own lives as well. These skills will be useful in any occupation and service learning is a great experience to have.
Benefits of service learning LINK: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.black/benefits_of_participation_in_service
STATISTICS
- Students who engage in service-learning feel that they can “make a difference”- Students who engaged in service-learning were more likely to increase their sense of self-esteem and self-efficacy
- Eighty-three percent of schools with service-learning programs reported that grade point averages of participating service-learning students improved 76 percent of the time
IN CLASS: I really like service learning. I'm excited to see my class every week, and see the kids' faces light up. This will definitely help prepare me for a classroom of my own. In the future, I can incorporate lesson ideas and classroom decoration ideas to make my classroom as beneficial to the kids as possible.
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