What is Service Learning?

Service learning takes place when a student achieves the learning objectives of an academic course through intentional reflection on his/her active engagement in a service activity that meets a community need. Service learning is...  different from volunteer efforts or community service.  When students do community service they help to meet community needs through volunteering.  In service learning, students go beyond this, by using the service experience as a foundation to examine themselves, their society, and their future. based on a reciprocal relationship in which the service reinforces and strengthens the learning, and the learning reinforces and strengthens the service. integrated into the academic curriculum such that students have structured opportunities to reflect critically on their experience.  This reflection takes place through a mix of writing, reading, speaking, listening and group discussion. an opportunity for students to use newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-life situations in their own communities. when students earn academic credit for demonstrating that they have learned through the service rather than simply putting in the hours. Service learning fosters a sense of caring for others and a commitment to civic responsibility.


 

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For any further information about Service Learning, please contact
srvlearn@oakton.edu
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Copyright & copy; 2000 Oakton Community College. Last update Summer 2000