FAQ

Q. How is service-learning different from community service and internships?
A. The primary beneficiary of community service is the recipient of the service; whereas the primary beneficiary of an internship is most often the student who gets hands-on experience. In service-learning, a student learns in a hands-on manner while providing a service that meets community needs.

Q. What is the advantage of taking (or teaching) a service-learning course?
A. Studies indicate that students forget at least half of what they learn passively while they remember 90% or more when they are engaged in “real world” learning. A 2000 study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA showed significant positive effects on all of its outcome measures including GPA, writing skills, critical thinking, values, self-efficacy, and leadership. For many courses, service-learning is a more active, efficient way to learn!

Q. Why is there a hyphen in service-learning?
A. The hyphen emphasizes the reciprocal nature of service-learning. Both the community and the students benefit. Both community and students give and receive.

Q. Are service-learning courses harder?
A. Service-learning is not an add-on activity. It is an experiential way to achieve learning goals. The time outside of class is comparable to more conventional learning methods, such as research conducted for essays. Many students find that hands-on learning is more engaging and service more meaningful than typical learning activities.

Q. How can service-learning help students?
A. Students who learn best by “doing” often perform better in service-learning courses. Graduate programs and employers are often impressed by the critical thinking skills developed as students recognize and participate in solving “real world” problems through their service-learning experiences.