The purpose of this series of books is to advance the knowledge in the service-learning research field. More importantly, this research is to be used to transform the field. This transformation will come from realizing both the history of service-learning and trying to imagine what the future may look like. The chapters in this book all demonstrate just how far service-learning research has come. Researchers, practitioners, and students alike have benefited from its dissemination and use the research to improve practice. The research does not simply inform educators how to create a better pedagogy. Rather, it informs a service-learning practice that can transform both individuals and institutions.

The authors examine samples of experimental learning programs in higher education to better understand the influential drivers of service-learning pedagogy, as well as potential barriers that hinder service-learning adoption in higher education settings. Service-learning is a structured learning experience that links academic course work and community service, stressing reciprocal learning and reflective practices to address community identified needs, while engaging and developing students citizenship skills and critical thinking for social change. This book discusses how service-learning projects impact students, faculty, higher education institutions, and service-learning clients through domestic and international experiences. The research methods demonstrated throughout this text include: survey research, mixed-methods research, literature reviews, quasi-experiments, and case studies. Chapters within this book evaluate the impact of service-learning projects through learning competency outcome measures or reflection analyses. We believe the empirical data and knowledge provided through this book will advance service-learning research and support the adoption/integration of service-learning opportunities in higher education settings. Moreover, we hope that future research will expand upon lessons provided in this book, to continue to build the service-learning knowledge base for faculty, students and institutions. Part I of this book provides a brief literature review of overcoming service-learning barriers in higher education, including discussion of online service-learning challenges and strategies. To offer an interdependent analysis of the service-learning approach, Parts II, III, and IV include case studies grouped by what may be considered the three primary stakeholder groups: Faculty, Students and Institutions. Part II: Faulty will provide detailed analyses of faculty, both tenure-track and off-tenure track, encountered issues and considerations regarding the integration of service-learning projects with the course curriculum. Part III: Students will discuss learning, reflections, and personal development outcomes of students who participate in service-learning opportunities. Part IV: Institutions will examine the partnerships between the higher education program and stakeholder communities, both in the domestic and international context. Chapter authors include professors from public, private, domestic and international universities with experience in student learning and experimental learning. These professors represent disciplines in public health, communication science and disorders, psychology, community engagement, and education and have incorporated service learning in their teaching and instruction. It is with sincerity that we express our appreciation to these professionals for their passion and commitment to advance our knowledge base of service-learning pedagogy and research in higher education.

Transforming Teacher Education through Service-Learning provides a fresh look at educational reform through the lens of teacher preparation. It poses the question “Why service-learning now?” as it discusses the meaningful ways service-learning pedagogy can transform the approaches used to prepare teachers to educate tomorrow’s children. The pedagogy of service-learning has significant implications for teacher education. Its transformative aspects have far reaching potential to address teacher candidate dispositions and provide deeper understanding of diversity. Knowledge of the pedagogy and how to implement it in candidates’ future classrooms could alter education to a more powerful experience of democracy in action and enhance the civic mission of schools. The current and ongoing research found within this volume is meant to continue support of the notion of educational reform. Because the vision we hold becomes the reality we experience, it is imperative to consider the question—Why service-learning now?—as we adjust teacher preparation programs to promote engaging opportunities for today’s youth.

"[This book] questions the prioritization and theoretical/philosophical underpinnings of the core concepts of service learning: 1. learning, 2. service, 3. community, and 4. change. By 'liberating' service learning, [the author] suggests reversing the prioritization of the concepts, starting with change, then community, then service, and then learning. In doing so, [the author] clarifies the benefits and purpose of this work, arguing that it will create greater pedagogical and community impact. [This book] challenges--and hopefully will change--our thinking about higher education community engagement."--

Eisner's seminal work on mind, education, and research explores the ways in which the methods, content, and assumptions in the arts, humanities, and social sciences can help us better understand our schools and classrooms. The Enlightened Eye expands how we think about inquiry in education and broadens our views about what it means to "know" with the goal of positively influencing the educational experience of those who live and work in our schools. The text includes examples depicting this type of research and how it can be used to evaluate teaching, learning, and the school environment.

This book establishes community engagement and service-learning as pathways to advancing human development and common good. Using the human development and capability approach as normative frameworks, with South Africa as a frame of reference, the author investigates the theoretical contributions and ultimate benefits of university-community partnerships. In doing so, this book demonstrates that three interrelated capabilities – affiliation, common good professionals and local citizenship – are developed through community engagement and service-learning. Subsequently, the notion of transformative change through community engagement and service-learning is illuminated, particularly when operating within the context of power differentials, inequality and extreme poverty. This book will be of interest and value to students and scholars of service-learning, and its implications for partnerships between universities and external communities.

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.