by Lillian Huerta

Service-Learning is defined as a teaching methodology that allows students to apply their academic skills/learning to the service that they are providing in the community. Here is what service-learning looks like: Auto mechanic students can teach women from a local women’s shelter to change oil or a flat tire. Students in a sociology course can develop a survey for a low-income neighborhood to determine the health needs of that community. Students studying accounting help prepare taxes for low-income individuals. Students studying marketing can create slogans for a non-profit. Students taking a course in web design can design a website for a school or non-profit.

Service-learning can take place abroad, as well. Students studying Spanish in Peru can read to impoverished children. Students studying culinary arts can host a meal for a homeless population in Germany. All it takes is creativity and developing community partnerships.

Service-Learning focuses on the promotion of civic awareness, responsibility, and engagement. Although it is often confused with internships, co-ops, general volunteerism, and other forms of experiential learning, it falls under the umbrella of experiential learning. Service-learning does share some commonalities with volunteerism and internships. However, what makes service-learning unique is that the service must take place in a non-profit setting and/or K-12 setting. Students are not paid for their service.

Service-learning is academic in nature and not a one-time volunteer experience.  Rather it takes place throughout a college semester. Another component of service-learning is that critical reflection must take place. Critical reflection allows faculty members to: 1. determine if their students applied their academic skills to the service that they provided to the community and 2. Through their service experience students must be able to demonstrate the theories, applications, etc. learned in class. Some faculty members will engage their students in reflection activities, such as classroom discussion, a mock debate, blogging, journal writing, a skit, a presentation, and artwork.

If service-learning sounds like something that you would like to do for your students and you feel authentic learning is a key for student success, then please contact ACC’s Service-Learning at LHuerta@austincc.edu and visit: www.austincc.edu/service/