Benefits of Service-Learning

Service-learning can be a wonderful tool for taking students outside of the classroom. There are many benefits of service-learning for students, teachers, and the community alike. Essentially, it is a research-based teaching and learning strategy that engages students in service to meet learning objectives and address real-world issues.

As an example, I participated in a service-learning project in the spring of 2016 while taking a Victorian Fiction class at UMass Lowell. This class involved many of the usual components one might expect from such a course, like reading novels from the Victorian era, writing papers, and discussing the literature in class. Adding the service-learning component took things a step further, however. Working alongside the Lowell National Historical Park and Mill No. 5, we helped develop and run Lowell’s First Annual Mill City Steampunk Festival. 

As part of the marketing team for this project, I wrote press releases, wrote content for and managed the festival’s social media, and communicated with the public about the event. These opportunities helped me gain real world experience, and I learned much more about marketing and event planning than I ever could have learned in the classroom alone. Service learning in general also teaches students many skills necessary to lifelong success, including critical-thinking, problem-solving, leadership, decision-making, collaboration, and communication. If I were to pursue a career in marketing, I would also have the added benefits of prior experience and an elevated level of career readiness.

Looking beyond the benefits for students, service-learning is also great for schools and communities. This interactive teaching method encourages reciprocal learning between students and teachers, and it can open up new avenues for research and publication for teachers. In my Victorian Fiction class, for example, our professor was able to write professionally about our experience with the steampunk festival. These kinds of projects can also serve to foster positive relationships between schools and their communities. In service-learning, the energy and creativity of youth can be applied to solving problems in the community, which in turn will help build a new generation of caring and experienced citizens. Additionally, it looks great on college applications and resumes!  

Not convinced about the benefits of service-learning yet? Check out this page for even more information. 

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services