Service Learning Overview This section will provide a general overview of how Miami-Dade College defines service-learning. What is Service-Learning? Why use Service-Learning? Why Meet Community Needs? Why Civic Responsibility?

Service-learning is integrating service experiences with "guided reflection" to enhance learning. Service-learning is defined as any program in which students learn and develop through thoughtfully organized service experiences that meet real community needs.
Characteristics of service-learning are as follows:

• Course relevant service which benefits the community

• Single day events to several hours a week per semester

• Reflection = writing, reading, speaking, listening, group discussions

• Academic credit for demonstrating learning achieved through the service, not just for putting in hours

• Encourages a greater understanding of social issues, civic responsibility, caring

Why use Service-Learning in an academic setting?

• To enhance student learning of existing course competencies

• To foster civic responsibility

• To promote life-long commitment to service

• To help meet community needs

• To activate Learning

• learn through active participation. (Experience and Learning Cone)

• To grow and develop personally

• To help yourself by help someone else, to gain skills that will help you for the rest of your life

Each one of us must do our part to help make the community better. By actively engaging and participating, we can help meet community needs.

Why Civic Responsibility? | Top

Our country was founded on an ethic of service. The health of our democracy depends on service and community involvement. Working toward the common good is something we must all commit ourselves to
achieve.