Incorporating service learning into your academic program

The inclusion of voluntary community service within a discipline based academic course aims to foster student development and learning as well as to increase the student's level of civic responsibility and greater awareness of social issues. Service learning encourages students to connect the discipline content of a course as taught in the classroom with real life experiences; real life experiences which go beyond the 'internship' or 'apprenticeship' model to one which focuses on the community, social and personal development issues that arise from the experience. This is achieved not simply by the experience but by deliberate reflection on the experience.

Incorporating service learning into an academic course is more than just requiring students to complete a set number of hours of voluntary service with a community program and to gain academic credit for that service. In fact, the principles for good practice in service learning make it clear that credit not be given for the service. It is the learning outcomes for which the students earn credit.

The objective of this workshop is to provide an opportunity for participants to gain a better understanding of service learning and to discuss and share ideas for the incorporation of service learning into their courses. Participants will be given an introduction to the historical and philosophical background of service learning. Some principles for the development of programs linking learning with service will be discussed. Examples of service learning courses will be provided.

In addition to the academic content to be covered in the course there are many practical issues to deal with when incorporating the service component. Practical advice will be provided on the implementation of service learning. Finally the workshop will be an opportunity to begin exploring the possibilities and practical considerations for incorporating service learning into the participant's courses. The workshop will be interactive with participants working in small groups to identify potential service learning courses and problem solving potential problems with the implementation of the course.