Service-Learning

Service-Learning

By: Steven Tucker

What exactly is service learning? Service-learning, according to bgsu.edu, is

credit-bearing educational experience in which students (a) participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs, and (b) reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of curricular content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility.

Ruby Tuesday is a place that I performed service-learning for the Doug Henderson Memorial Golf Tournament.

Chick-Fil-A in Valdosta is also a place that I preformed service-learning as a fund raiser for a memorial golf tournament.

I also collected can-tabs for some of my service-learning.

I participated in Operation Christmas Child for service-learning also.

Service-Learning Benefits Increases retention Provides quality education Increases relevancy of education to students living in

the real world Enhances personalized education for students Teaches positive values, leadership, citizenship, and

personal responsibility Empowers students as learners, teachers, achievers,

and leaders

Service-Learning Benefits (Cont.) Invites students to become members of their own community Teaches job skills and prepares students for careers after college Encourages faculty to be innovative and creative in their teaching Contributes to a university’s outreach efforts to the local

community, the state, and beyond Increases campus-community collaboration and partnerships Helps with community education Contributes thousands of hours of service to people in need, non-

profit agencies, private sector companies, non-governmental and governmental agencies

What does service-learning mean to me? “Community service isn’t about padding one’s

resume, it isn’t about doing things so that one might be proud and arrogant about it. But it is the dawning realization of to the greater understanding our humanity, our fragility and a greater appreciation of the great lives that so many of us lead and deem to be “normal” – when it pretty much is extraordinary in its own respect relative to many other individuals around the world.”

-This quote was found online by ,myself and sums up my feelings on service learning in words better than I could say.

The End

All and all, service-learning is by far the best way to help your community while being in college.