Benefits of Service Learning


 

 “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” 

 

                          

Horace Mann, to the Antioch Univeristy graduating class of 1859

 

  Training Modules

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

NC Social Studies Standard Course of Study 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The National Council for the Social Studies proclaimed in 1992 that "the primary purpose of social studies is to help young people develop the ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world."  Service learning can develop the proper empathy and community engagement necessary for fulfillment of that purpose.  

 

Research supports that when service learning is tied to a standard course of study and classroom academic objectives, young people make gains on achievement tests, take a deeper interest in completing their homework, and improve their grade-point average. 

 

Service learning also cultivates those skills necessary for democratic citizenship in a more interconnected world. Communication skills through personal interviews or volunteerism, as well as, interpretation and analytical skills through independent research should improve as students investigate what it means to be an engaged citizen.  Student pride and confidence should progress as they reflectively explore their place in and contribution to their community. 

 

Students should become better problem solvers as they address real world questions and issues as they plan and implement a service learning project--What problems can realistically be addressed?  How can I best help solve this problem?  Who in my community can help with this process?  How can I find and contact these people?  How can I compromise when problems arise?  How and why is my role in confronting this issue significant?

 

Ultimately, students should leave school with a better view of their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Through a well planned service learning experience in the social studies, students should become more aware of their own capacities and hopefully grow to appreciate that an individual can and should make a positive difference in their community.  

 

 


Essential Question--Benefits

 


 

  Resource Links--Benefits

 


    A View of Benefits

 

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 Primary Document Connection--Benefits

 

Primary sources provide a more direct window into understanding how past events and people compare over time and impact the present.  Because the analysis of primary resources promotes engagement and active inquiry, such resources can also be used to supplement the service learning experience. Service learning implies citizenship, service, sacrifice, engagement,  and responsibility.  The following links to primary documents offer some suggestions as to how these concepts can support the North Carolina Standard Course of Study in social studies, as well as, the student's service learning experience.  How do these documents directly or indirectly imply the benefits of service?  What other concepts do you think service-learning suggests? What other primary resources in support of the NC Standard Course of Study do you feel also support service learning?

 


  North Carolina Service Learning Social Network

 

The NC Service Learning Social Network is designed to be an online collaborative professional learning community (PLC) for integration of service learning in the social studies.  Through forum questioning, blogs, and online shared resources, the social studies section at the Department of Public Instruction hopes that social networking makes service learning a more accessible, manageable, and integral part of the North Carolina social studies classroom.

 


  Professional Development--Benefits (Available Spring 2011)