Service learning is a teaching strategy that helps educators become better teachers and provides the students with opportunities to go out into the world and gain practical experience on the things learnt in classrooms. This learning strategy is changing the ways communities think about education. Several recent trends in the philosophies of education, knowledge, society, and politics theoretically undergird the renewal of interest in and support for project learning, and especially, service learning (Speck & Hobbe, 2004). It teaches the students science, mathematics, writing, social science and history in a more practical environment, and connects the communities to the classrooms. Students can tie the basic learning’s with real life experiences. It engages students to improve teamwork and develop communication.
The analytical skills of the students are developed and these skills are applied to the community. These methods involve learning beyond the classroom and engage students in multiple activities in the community. Students are in-charge of their own learning as it creates eagerness and curiosity as they try to enhance their learning in the community. The academic performance of the students improves tremendously that in turn increases their grades. Service learning builds a healthy relationship and strengthens the ties between schools and communities, and allows the students to attend the local needs of the community and build up their personal intellectual skills.
Classic philosophies of education suggest that students should be taught basic facts and principles, which, having been mastered, could be used a basis to approach future problems (Speck & Hoppe, 2004). The basic facts begin at home in co-ordination with the family and support from the parents. Parents must encourage and help in the service learning projects assigned by the schools by assisting in the plans and help develop an approach to execute the plans. When parents work together with the schools and the communities in learning, students will succeed not only in the school but also in their life. Parents must inform the teachers about their availability and interest to assist in service learning projects. Training opportunities in service learning for faculty can often be attended by parents as well (Wade, 1997). Parents can offer assistance in dropping their children to the service learning sites, and build a network to find the organizations in the community that require assistance of the students. When the children solve any problems by the methods of service learning then it must be appreciated by the parents to motivate them to get involved in such activities.
The impact of service learning has been remarkable in the last few decades on the academics of the participating K-12 students. The systematic pedagogy would provide educators with an instructional approach to support group learning and problem solving in K-12 classrooms (Furco, 2002). To make service learning a common practice in all K-12 schools the teachers must be provided with excellent service learning training and the existing experienced teachers must transfer their knowledge to the future teachers to provide quality service learning to the students.
Service learning does not only improve the grades of the students, or makes them socially responsible; it creates a confidence in the students, builds curiosity to learn new things and helps them know more about themselves. When participating service learning students get involved in the activities of the community they enjoy the art of giving and develop a caring attitude towards the community. All the passing out students would score better and improve their grades when all the education centers initiate service learning in their campuses. The education system must focus to develop democratic service learning programs and abide by the ethical principles that support the community, diversity, equality, and freedom.
References
Furco, Andrew. (2002). Service-Learning: The Essence of the Pedagogy. IAP.
Speck, Bruce W., Hoppe, Sherry Lee., (2004). Service Learning: History, Theory, and Issues. Greenwood Publishing Group.
Wade, Rahima Carol. (1997). Community Service-Learning: A Guide to Including Service in the Public School Curriculum. SUNY Press.
