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Learn and
Serve is an experiential instructional methodology that reinforces the
academic objectives of a course through meaningful and thoughtfully
organized community service. It builds and reinforces curriculum-based
academic knowledge while meeting community needs and/or promoting public
good.
Why
do Service-Learning?
A KSU education
means more than teaching students the right skills to find a good-paying
job. It means guiding them to use their knowledge to lead a meaningful
life. KSU does this successfully through fresh, innovative teaching
methods - methods like service-learning.
Through
service-learning, KSU is showing students a new way to lead a meaningful
life and to lead others…by serving. But these long-term effects
are just one part of the reason service-learning really works.
Improved
Academic Performance
Students gain a higher level of understanding through hands-on community
service, so they come away from the project understanding the real-world
relevance of what they are learning in college.
Motivated
Students
Students find the answer to the question, "Why do I need to learn
this stuff, anyway?" They better retain knowledge they get from
class through hands-on service-learning activities and become motivated
to learn more.
Increased
Service Impact
Through service-learning, the power of one is multiplied by the hundreds
of students that all work toward a common goal. This increases the service
activity's impact on the community, while the service activity increases
the impact of class lessons on the student.
Better-Developed
Leadership and Teamwork Skills
Becoming involved in the community not only meets needs in that community,
but it diversifies the life experiences of the student. Service-learning
encourages valuing the differences in people and in situations, therefore
developing a stronger team mentality when it comes to community.
Increased
Student Retention
Through service-learning, students gain high levels of motivation and
interest. And with the service activity directly enforcing academic
skills, service-learning leads to improved academic performance in students,
which leads to greater student retention.
Enhanced
Student Civic Responsibility
Service-learning helps students identify their roles as contributing
citizens. Students are personally impacted by meeting a need in the
community through their service-learning project, and they grow to understand
the complexity of problems that exist in any community.
Directed
Vocational Decision-Making
Through service-learning, students witness firsthand the effects of
various skills in the community. They can explore many career paths
and carefully select the right one for them, while also becoming committed
to serving their community with their professional skills.
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