Service Learning Essay - Benefits, Types, and Limitations

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Jiabao Wen
Baker College of Owasso

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Service Learning Essay
Service learning is a teaching and learning approach that encompasses learning objectives
combined with the community service to meet social needs, civic responsibilities while
promoting progressive learning and opportunities for reflection to achieve desired learning
outcomes (Joe, 2018). A Service-learning project allows a student to achieve both learning and
community goals. Such project is initiated in collaboration with community agencies, teaching
faculty government bodies and non-governmental organizations. With the help of the service
learning project a student can apply the classroom learning for community based activities for
bringing positive change in the community. It gives an opportunity to engage with community
and undergo experiential learning. This kind of educational model allows one to work in real life
context and engage with the community partners to address the significant human needs. In
many campuses the service learning model is accepted as one of the most significant teaching
methodology as per Sharon (2015). Fieldworks vary depending on the grades. For example a
student in fifth grade of elementary school guided younger students in learning process in a
subject for a year. This opportunity improved the communication skills of both older and
younger students. It helped the participants learn leadership skills. In similar other project
students of science class of a middle school visited environmental protection agency as a part of
the course module on pollution and disease. Filed work helped them learn the harmful effects of
radon and way to test in home. Further students applied their learning in developing information
booklets to share the knowledge on community hazards of radon, clean up and its testing with
local schools. Further, students also developed infomercials to create awareness about the HIV
and related discrimination. The learning was shared with high school players and community
groups using skits. The students highlighted the similarity between the racial discrimination and

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AIDS related discrimination ("What is Service-Learning? - national youth leadership council",
2018). Higher level students work with community at a deeper level to work on issues of grave
concern.
The benefit of Service Learning
Service learning is an educational approach that helps a student gain in-depth knowledge
by working on real life issues and in practical setting. It facilitates the better understanding of the
concepts taught in class. It is also an experiential opportunity for the teachers as they engage in
community servicers along with students. In addition to the community benefits the academic
institutions are also benefitted. Students tend to gain competence in team work, develop
interpersonal skills and gain confidence in application of theoretical knowledge in community
setting. The teachers also gain experiential opportunities to research and enhance their teaching
quality. Teachers improve their professional experience by contributing to the university and
college civic engagement missions. It further develops their knowledge and strengthens their
professional network in university as well as community. Such learning model also benefits the
community members as they receive the institutional support and other valuable services.
Student gain high self esteem on contributing towards the betterment of community. They gain
in-depth knowledge due to various explorations and thinking of ways to improve communities.
In this process they gain better understanding of themselves and an enhanced commitment to
public service.
Types/Examples of Service Learning
Service learning can be of various types including Advocacy Service Learning, Research-
Based service learning, Direct Service Learning and Indirect service learning. Firstly, Advocacy
Service Learning deals with areas of public interests. In this learning model, projects that impact