Service Learning - Benefits

Students:

• Enhanced learning through action 9, 10, 17, 18,
• Increased academic performance 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 17
• Develop leadership skills 2, 6, 9, 13, 17
• Personal development
• Fostering the development of civic responsibility and other values of citizenship 2, 3, 10, 18
• Openness to new ideas and experiences 14
• Deeper relationships with faculty 9, 10, 13,

Faculty:

• Students gain a deeper understanding of course material 9
• Students gain the ability to apply course material to real world problems 8, 9, 10, 13
• Students who participate in service-learning report greater satisfaction with the instructor, the grading system, the reading assignments, and the course than students who did not participate in service-learning 8
• Opportunity to provide useful service to the community 1
• Application of theory and knowledge to local problem solving 16
• Redefines the role of teacher from giver of knowledge to facilitator of knowledge 5
• Teaching becomes more process oriented due to interaction with students 5
• Provides for connections between research and teaching and often a commitment to research by faculty 5, 7
• Deeper relationships with students 9, 10, 13

University:

• Service-Learning improves student satisfaction with college 10, 13
• Students engaged in service-learning are more likely to graduate 10
• Enhanced community relationships and positive community perception 10, 13, 16

Please see the complete document (Benefits of Service Learning) for references