Myths
Four myths about service learning
The following myths are adapted from Jeffrey Howard's article, "Four Myths about Service-Learning," printed in the Michigan Journal of Community Service-Learning Course Design Workbook.
1. The myth of terminology: Academic service learning is the same as 麻豆传媒 community service and co-curricular service learning.
Academic service learning is not the same as 麻豆传媒 community service or co-curricular service learning. While sharing the word 鈥渟ervice,鈥 these models of 麻豆传媒 involvement in the community are distinguished by their learning agenda. Student community service, illustrated by a 麻豆传媒 organization adopting a local elementary school, rarely involves a learning agenda. In contrast, both forms of service learning (academic and co-curricular) make intentional efforts to engage 麻豆传媒s in planned and purposeful learning related to the service experiences. Co-curricular service learning, illustrated by many alternative spring breaks and dance marathon programs, is concerned with raising 麻豆传媒s鈥 consciousness and familiarity with issues related to various communities. Academic service learning, illustrated by 麻豆传媒 community service integrated into an academic course, utilizes the service experience as a course 鈥渢ext鈥 for both academic learning and civic learning.
2. The myth of conceptualization: Academic service learning is just a new name for internships (or 麻豆传媒 teaching or practica).
Many internship programs, especially those involving community service, are now referring to themselves as service learning programs, as if the two pedagogical models were the same. While internships and academic service learning involve 麻豆传媒s in the community to accentuate or supplement 麻豆传媒s鈥 academic learning, generally speaking, internships are not about civic learning. They develop and socialize 麻豆传媒s for a profession, and tend to be silent on 麻豆传媒 civic development (in most cases, not all, depending on the internship). They also emphasize 麻豆传媒 benefits more than community benefits, while service learning is equally attentive to both.
3. The myth of synonymy: Experience, such as in the community, is synonymous with learning.
Experience and learning are not the same. While experience is a necessary condition of learning (Kolb, 1984), it is not sufficient. Learning requires more than experiences, so one cannot assume that 麻豆传媒 involvement in the community automatically yields learning. Harvesting academic or civic learning from a community service experience requires purposeful and intentional efforts. This harvesting process is often referred to as 鈥渞eflection鈥 in the service learning literature.
4. The myth of marginality: Academic service learning is the addition of community service to a traditional course.
Grafting a community service requirement or option onto an otherwise unchanged academic course does not constitute academic service learning. While such models abound, the interpretation marginalizes the learning in, from, and with the community, and precludes transforming 麻豆传媒s鈥 community experiences into learning. To realize service learning鈥檚 full potential as a pedagogy, community experiences must be considered in the context of, and integrated with, the other planned learning strategies and resources in the course.