Service Learning Introduction

Introduction

Greetings!

Since you are reading this, you probably have an interest in Service-Learning. Perhaps you are presently a volunteer in your community or had a fulfilling experience with activism as a student. If you are a student, you have been introduced to the concept in your class. Maybe you have been incorporating community service in your teaching and are looking for some new ideas. Possibly you are searching for a new approach to bring more life to the classroom or just to recharge your batteries. Or perhaps you are a community partner interested in sharing the resources-people and knowledge-Tidewater Community College has to offer, to the benefit of both your organization and the college.

Service-Learning is an effective teaching strategy that is now being widely used in higher education. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated by research and reports of faculty at Tidewater Community College and across the country. The American Association of University Professors, the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of Higher Education, Campus Compact, and many other professional organizations endorse the pedagogy. Many in TCC's administration, faculty, staff and student body have enthusiastically supported this initiative.

Service-Learning is not for everyone. It is just one powerful and proven teaching strategy that can enrich student learning, enhance teaching, and connect and revitalize our community. Our hope is that more of our students, faculty members, and neighbors can experience the transformation that comes with Service-Learning.

This manual is designed to give you a good understanding of what Service-Learning is; to provide you with the basics for integrating Service-Learning into your work; and to provide detailed suggestions on how to use the strategy, whether you are a student or a community partner. The manual is a work in progress, and suggestions for additions or improvements are always welcomed.

Good luck in your journey!

Sonya Lizasuain, Program Head
(757) 822-7429, 535-3044 (cell)
slizasuain@tcc.edu

I wish to acknowledge the original edition of this manual by Ives Clark and previous editions of the manual and this web site by Cynthia Horen and Helen Ratcliff.