Service Learning – It's for EVERYONE!

What is Service Learning and how does it relate to Communication and Learning? There are many definitions and articles devoted to this subject, but a good simple explanation comes from Service Learning
 
“It’s a teaching strategy through which students apply what they’re learning in school to identify, research and address community needs. “


At West Texas A&M University we have had a long tradition of incorporating Service Learning into the classroom. Many of the Core classes incorporate it into their lesson plans.

In Communication we use it in several ways, students are required to do a Service Learning project from which they will write a reflection paper over their time and then they will give a Persuasive Speech where they will try to persuade the class members to devote their own time to the cause.

WT along with many researchers believe that involvement in this project increases the students civic engagement not only during their college years but throughout their life.



One semester I had a student who was a member of the varsity basketball team, according to him had been playing basketball ALL his life. His choice for his Service Learning was to volunteer at the local YMCA. According to the student he went in thinking that he would be playing basketball with kids....................instead the Y staff had him sweeping, cleaning, and working with equipment. Playing with the kids filled just a little of the time! His speech and reflection paper extolled the virtues and benefits of the Y but he also reflected on the fact that in his many years on a basketball court he had never realized what ALL it took for kids to have the chance to play there. I am excited to say that he continued to volunteer at the Y long after the assignment was over.



Additional benefits for the communication student is the opportunity and experience of being around new people of a variety of ages and backgrounds. This imposes on them the opportunity to communicate with a group that they probably would not come into contact with otherwise! It also puts them in the position of ACTIVE observation of the group and the organization.

We teach that Communication is both the active phase of Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Written AND the active phase of being the recipient of others Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Written communication! Being in the role of an active participant AND observer gives them a valuable skill that will serve them throughout their lives both personally and professionally.

Students who are interested in learning more might want to check out "Learning through Serving: A student guidebook for service-learning across the disciplines" .  There are also MANY academic articles available through your local library.  WT students should check out the selection at the Cornette Library that you can read free of charge.
 If you are an instructor and you would like to learn more about putting Service Learning into your classroom instruction you might check out Change the World with Service Learning , there are MANY books out there on the subject but this is one that I have read and learned from.