July 2002

Service Learning Benefits Teens

What is Service Learning?

Service learning means learning through good deeds. It is a way of teaching youth by linking community service to formal and informal education. Service learning creates an opportunity to meet community needs while helping youth grow and learn in meaningful ways. In service-learning projects, youth take on real issues such as pollution control, hunger and diversity. For example, a service-learning project may involve youth helping to build a playground in an underserved community, gather food or clothing for homeless children, or create a nature preserve in an eroded waterway.

Why is Service Learning Important?

Youth benefit greatly from their involvement in service-learning projects. Youth who take part in service learning tend to improve in their schoolwork and learn good citizenship. Service learning also gives youth a chance to explore future careers and enhance personal and social skills.

School Achievement

Research shows that elementary and middle-school students involved with service-learning projects improved their problem-solving skills. Service learning is linked to higher scores on the state test of basic skills and increased student achievement in language and reading. Students who engage in service learning also tend to display an increased sense of accomplishment in their school work.

Citizenship

A recent study shows that elementary and middle school students who take part in service learning develop a strong sense of ethics and civic responsibility, and increase their understanding of how government works. High school students in high quality service-learning programs increase their understanding of how history affects society. They also are likely to think about politics and morals, and to be interested in social change.

Career Exploration

Service-learning students gain career and communication skills and learn more about possible careers. Studies also show that they tend to develop better skills and attitudes toward work.

Personal Development

Research shows students who engage in service learning rank responsibility as a more important character trait and report a higher sense of responsibility to their school. Another study found that they were more likely to treat others kindly, help each other, and care about doing their best. Research also revealed a higher level of self-esteem.

"By teaching young people the joys of service to others, we make good citizenship a vital, transforming and continuing aspect of our national character." –Secretary of State Colin Powell

Getting Youth Involved in Service Learning

Tips for Parents, Teachers and Community Advocates

For half a century, the service-learning concept has spread across America. In the last decade, it was spurred to new growth by funding from congress and presidential actions. The following are essential guidelines for successful service-learning projects:

• Involve youth throughout the planning process.
• Make a link between learning and service.
• Focus on the new skills to be learned.
• Let youth experiment and test new roles.
• Make a meaningful contribution to the community.
• Connect school, community organizations and families in new, positive ways.
• Build unity among participants to help them function better as a team.
• View young people as a resource.
• Include a systematic evaluation system with reflection at the core.

Reflection

"Reflection empowers and leads to positive change." –Margaret Dale Barrand

Service learning should involve a time to purposefully think about the experience. This reflection brings meaning to the process and creates a link to other types of learning. Reflection can involve asking the following questions to enhance learning:

• What exactly was accomplished?
• How did you think the project went?
• What were some of your thoughts and feelings as you carried out the project?
• Did you learn anything that supported you? If so, what?
• Did you change your attitudes about anything? If so, explain how you changed.
• How can you use what you learned in other settings such as in your home, school or community?

For More Information

Good websites regarding service learning are:

• Corporation for National Service: Learn and Service America: http://www.learnandserve.org
• Learning in Deed: http://learningindeed.org/index.html
• National Service-learning Clearinghouse: http://www.servicelearning.org

For a list of the references for this issue of Ups & Downs, contact Janet Fox, jfox1@unl.edu.

This edition of Ups & Downs was contributed by Janet Fox, Extension Specialist, Southeast District, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension. Ups & Downs is edited by Rosalie Bakken, Ph.D., Adolescent Development Specialist, University of Nebraska.