This collection of 17 papers focuses on the important role of service-learning in the education of students at liberal arts colleges, drawing on the activities of the Learning and Service Alliance sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). They include: (1) "An Introduction to Service-Learning" (Robert L. Sigmon); (2) "The Problem of Definitions in Service-Learning" (Robert L. Sigmon; (3) "Design Considerations" (Robert L. Sigmon); (4) "The Reflective Arts" (Robert L. Sigmon); (5) "Among True Partners" (Judy Harvey); (6) "Voices from the Citizens in the Community" (Damita J. Dandridge and Barbara S. Frankle); (7) "The Community and Service-Learning" (Thomas Plaut and others); (8) "The Voice of Students in Service-Learning" (Ralph Corrigan); (9) "Faculty on Service-Learning" (John Reiff and others); (10) "Linking Service and Scholarship" (John W. Eby); (11) "Connecting Head, Heart, and Hands" (Richard Slimbach); (12) "Philosophy 115: Ethical Practice" (Yoram Lubling); (13) "Service-Learning and Career Development" (Matthew R. Berndt); (14) "Evaluating a New Service-Learning Program" (Grace Ann Witte and others); (15) "Suggestions from Practitioners"; (16) "College/Workplace Service-Learning Connections" (Robert L. Sigmon); and (17) "Continuing the Journey to Service-Learning: A Fable" (Robert L. Sigmon). Three appendixes provide a service-learning timeline, a summary of CIC's service-learning initiative, and selected service-learning resources. (MDM)

Interest in and research on civic engagement and service-learning have increased exponentially. In this rapid growth, efforts have been made to institutionalize pedagogies of engagement across both K-12 and higher education. As a result, increased positive attention has been complemented equally by well-founded critiques complicating experiential approaches’ claims and questioning if institutional, financial, and philosophical commitment is warranted. A key complaint from these critical voices is the tightly woven, protective insular core in the field of service-learning. This claim is not unfounded, nor necessarily bad. Initial efforts to legitimize service-learning and other forms of community-based education required group cohesion. The concern, however, is that the initial group cohesion has led to groupthink wherein group members have avoided critical analysis and evaluation. This book aims to prevent groupthink within the field of service-learning by allowing for the examination of effective alternatives by new voices who can serve as “critical evaluators” from within the field itself. Myriad perspectives are offered, including empirical, theoretical, practical, and community perspectives. Authors challenge preconceived notions of service-learning, who is benefited by this pedagogy, outcomes of participation and implementation, and most importantly the theoretical, conceptual, and methodological lenses through which service-learning is even considered. The book allows servicelearning’s major criticisms to be examined, challenges to be voiced, and research agendas to be laid. This book parallels service-learning’s presence and popularity across various disciplines/fields. Chapters are written from broad perspectives and are aimed to inform service-learning researchers and educators, community organizations, and policy makers who consider service-learning as a means to address civic responsibility. Authors expose theoretical and philosophical concerns circulating in the field, and often still occupying spaces on the fringe of discourse, action, and research. The book raises fundamental questions for undergraduate and graduate courses with social justice themes by considering the implications that pedagogies of engagement have on learners and communities.

The service-learning field is 50 years old in the United States. Much has been developed over that time in the fields of K-12 schooling, higher education, and community organizations. People who have been involved in the movement have worked individually and collaboratively to include servicelearning as an effective pedagogy and program in educational settings. They have created opportunities for students, teachers, faculty, and community members to learn about academic content and personal commitment to serving others for social change and community impact. In this book we hear from individuals who have been involved in the effort for more than 30 or 40 years about what they have learned from their experiences and what wisdom they can share with others who will be involved for the next several decades. Their experience, insight, and understanding will hopefully help younger people to improve and expand on the movement and place service-learning and community engagement as a regular part of American education. “Robert Shumer has been a stalwart of the service learning movement for decades. He’s a practitioner, a researcher, an experimenter. This book gives valuable perspective for all of us going forward.” ~ Paul Loeb, Author of Soul of a Citizen “At a moment when many are asking how higher education can better serve our democracy, Robert Shumer’s book reminds us that we still have much to learn from those who built the movement for community engagement through service learning. As befits the field, the chapters in this book derive wisdom from experience and, in so doing, give us insight and inspiration for identifying the way forward.” ~ Andrew J. Seligsohn, President, Campus Compact “This book provides a strong foundation for promoting discussions on how the service-learning movement has evolved over the past 30-40 years. Rob Shumer has pulled together several key leaders in the service-learning movement to share their stories and experiences. This book will be useful to a younger generation of service-learning practitioners and faculty who will continue to build the field that these pioneers so generously cultivated.” ~ Elaine K. Ikeda, Ph.D. Executive Director, California Campus Compact

This book provides everything administrators and teachers need to build service-learning programs that prepare students as engaged citizens committed to equity and justice. Cipolle describes practical strategies for classroom teachers along with the theoretical framework so readers can deftly move beyond the book to a meaningful program for their schools.

"This year, over ten million people will go abroad, eager to find the perfect blend of adventure and altruism. Volunteer travel can help you find your place in the world--and find out what you're made of. So why do so many international volunteer programs fail to make an impact? Why do some do more harm than good? Learning Service offers a powerful new approach that invites volunteers to learn from host communities before trying to 'help' them. It's also a thoughtful critique of the sinister side of volunteer travel; a guide for turning good intentions into effective results; and essential advice on how to make the most of your experience."--Amazon.com.

As a new generation of practitioners engages with service learning, at a time when higher education faces questions about learning outcomes and costs, and in the context of such issues as globalization and the environment, this book poses important questions about practice, institutional sustainability, and future directions. Among these are:What counts as service learning? What value does it bring to institutions? Is it appropriate for all students? How is globalization impacting service learning? Divided into three thematic parts, this book successively covers institutional and administrative issues; service learning as a springboard for research; and presents new practices that address emerging challenges and changing student populations. The contributors review how different institutional types have structured their service learning activities; address the issue of centralization or decentralization; propose better ways to form community partnerships; consider promotion and tenure implications; postulate framing service-learning and community engagement as scholarship; and examine service-learning as a springboard for research. Further chapters offer a new blueprint for funding to achieve sustainability; examples of international service learning from a European perspective; a case study and framework for using on-line formats to extend the reach of a program; raise the urgent issue of the experiences and contributions of underrepresented students; and present the rationale and processes for developing effective student-led evaluation of programs.

As academic service-learning continues to grow rapidly, practitioners are discovering a pressing need for solid empirical research about learning outcomes. Where's the Learning in Service-Learning? helps define learning expectations, presents data about learning, and links program characteristics with learning outcomes. It is the first book to explore the experience of service-learning as a valid learning activity.