服務學習

Service Learning

沈六(Liow Sheen)

《公民訓育學報》 6期 (1997/06) Pp. 43-59

https://doi.org/10.6231/CME.1997(6)03

並列摘要

Service learning is a merger of community service and classroom learning that strengthens both and generates a whole greater than the sum of its parts. It is an integral part of the curriculum. It is an innovating concept. Service learning involves students in meeting real human needs as part of the school curriculum, enabling them to learn by doing. Service learning is a powerful tool. There is much evidence of its potential for enhancing learning and benefiting students and community alike. It has been designed for teachers who have never engaged in a service projects as well as for those who are ready for more extensive programs. Service activities range from those that can be performed right in the classroom or school to those that involve multiple placements outside of school. They include projects of varying duration those some that can be completed in a relatively short time and others that require a major time commitment. Recognizing the potency of learning through service, teachers are encouraging the students to reach out to the homeless, the hospitalized, and the allowed and to learn about poverty, health, and society, and also about compassion and civic responsibility. Schools have become active, exciting places; the curriculum makes more sense, and the experiences make the students feel pretty good about them. The teachers are having fun. School and classroom discipline problems have eased. Using the community as a laboratory for their courses enhances their teaching. Service learning is a new way of learning or method of instruction. By challenging students to be their best, engaging them in relevant activities, and eliminating the constant testing and grading. Service learning eliminates much of the tension between students and teachers. It engenders trust in students, a relationship between teacher and students that leads to the empowerment of both. Teachers who wish to initiate a service-learning project need to engage in extensive planning. Decision will have to be made first as to the duration of the project and time available to schedule service. Before the project is selected objectives, criteria, and academic and community needs will need to be considered. Finally, other aspects of the plan, such as sites, transportation, insurance, and funding, will need to be investigated before the actual proposal is written.