Carlson Leadership & Public Service Center
Why service-learning?
Service-learning is an opportunity for faculty members to pair academic instruction with community engagement. Our model of service-learning aims to build reciprocal relationship between community partner organizations and the university, while also fostering rich learning experiences for students.
Here are our top 3 reasons why you should implement service-learning into your course:
1) Service-learning enhances student learning
In service learning students are able to:
- connect academic content with hands-on experience
- increase their sense of self-efficacy and develop their analytical skills
- challenge personal and social assumptions, values and beliefs
- develop deliberative, collaborative, and leadership skills
- consider the civic, moral and ethical implications of the application of knowledge in professional and civic life
- learn from community-based professionals with expertise in addressing social issues and
the communities they work within
2) Service-learning gives instructors the opportunity to develop pedagogically
In developing a service learning course, instructors can:
- engage with local communities
- increase civic responsibility and action
- develop and implement a new pedagogy
- promote inclusive teaching
- diversify one’s teaching style to include different learning styles
- transform the curriculum to include diverse perspectives
3) Service-learning helps support community partners as they work to address community needs
By participating in service learning community partners can:
- expand their base of volunteers
- work with students who are enthusiastic and motivated to learn and bring with them new insights, perspectives, and knowledge
- help shape student learning and knowledge of their surrounding community
- connect with University of Washington students, faculty and staff in meaningful ways
- educate and inform University of Washington students and faculty about issues of importance to their organization and the population(s) they work with.