FAQ
What is service-learning?
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Service-learning can be simply described as an enrichment experience that encompasses students, faculty and community. Although education and knowledge are offered from talented professors and instructors at UIndy, the learning experience can be deficient without the benefit of application of knowledge. Service-learning is one way to successfully capture these opportunities and challenge students and faculty to reach further into themselves for personal growth.
According to research conducted by Janet Eyler of Indiana University and Dwight Giles of the University of Massachusetts, it is not practical that expectations that traditional learning practices will provide the appropriate growth and complex learning that brings maturity and rationality to the problem solving abilities of a student is sufficient. “The learning goals in higher education are complex, and students are affected by many of life’s experiences; no single intervention, particularly over the course of a semester, can be expected to have a dramatic impact on student outcomes” (Eyler). |
The concern of today’s traditional education is that students are acquiring knowledge in the classroom and yet lack the understanding that signals when to apply their knowledge to real life scenarios. Classroom experiences are rarely similar to life experiences. As explained by Eyler and Giles, “Cognitive scientists found that students rarely transferred knowledge and principles learned in the classroom instruction to new problems; even students who had been presented with information about solving a problem directly analogous to a new problem often failed to apply it (Bransford, 1993)” (Eyler 8).
The residual effects of the lack of knowledge application may have also impacted civic engagement. Over the years the number of students attending college have increased. However, according to Thomas Ehrlich, Senior Scholar of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, political knowledge and engagement are decreased. Although knowledge is important and empowering; knowledge alone does not always inspire involvement, ambition or prepare students for diversity. Carefully planned and conducted Service Learning projects can help achieve a connection between knowledge with experience.
The residual effects of the lack of knowledge application may have also impacted civic engagement. Over the years the number of students attending college have increased. However, according to Thomas Ehrlich, Senior Scholar of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, political knowledge and engagement are decreased. Although knowledge is important and empowering; knowledge alone does not always inspire involvement, ambition or prepare students for diversity. Carefully planned and conducted Service Learning projects can help achieve a connection between knowledge with experience.
How do I get involved?A few things you can do to become more educated and get involved:
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How do I find help?
Our office is located in Schwitzer 208 and is a great resource for any questions or items that may require more help. The phone number is (317) 788-3557.
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Why teach service learning?Service-learning, which combines the best of the teaching and service sectors, has proved to be a powerful and practical methodology and tool with far-reaching implications. Two separate yet interrelated goals-community engagement and student learning-set the nature and structure of a service-learning programs in higher education.
- Mary Moore and Phylis Lan Lin
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