How is volunteer service different from service learning?
Volunteer service is beneficial to both the people who provide the service and the community agencies that receive the help but what is often missing from these experiences is structured reflection that leads to critical thinking about how the service experience is related to the life of the volunteer as an individual and as a community member. Service learning, at its best, provides a mutually beneficial community service (action) that is structured with time for self-reflection. Service learning attempts to connect the experiences in the community to themes and principles in the course content. Ongoing dialogue with peers and members of the community provides additional opportunities for students to connect or re-connect with civic society. What is meant by self-reflection and action? Self-reflection involves a commitment to record ones thoughts and to ask questions of the service learning experience. Action refers to the community service provided. (This is a very brief explanation
