Service-Learning Impacts on Youth, Schools, and Communities:
Research on K-12 School-Based Service-Learning, 1990-1999
The Impact of
Service-Learning on Youth Personal and Social Development
Service-learning has a positive effect on the personal development
of public school youth in the following areas:
-
Increases in personal and social responsibility, communication, and
a sense of educational competence;
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Higher sense of responsibility than students in control groups;
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Perceive themselves to be more socially competent;
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More likely to treat each other kindly, help each other, and care
about doing their best;
-
More likely to increase their sense of self-esteem and
self-efficacy; and
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Have fewer behavioral problems.
Students who
participate in service-learning are less likely to engage in “risk”
behaviors:
-
Reduced levels of alienation;
-
Less likely to be referred to the principals office for
disciplinary measures; and
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Less likely to engage in behaviors that lead to pregnancy or arrest.
Service-learning
has a positive effect on students’ interpersonal development and the
ability to relate to culturally diverse groups:
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Better able to trust and be trusted by others, be reliable, and
accept responsibility;
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More likely to develop positive bonds with adults;
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Showed greater empathy and cognitive complexity;
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Greater acceptance of cultural diversity;
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Increased awareness of cultural differences and attitudes towards
helping others; and
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Became more dependable, felt more comfortable communicating with
ethnically diverse groups.
The Impact
of Service-Learning on Civic Responsibility
Service-learning
helps to develop students’ sense of civic and social responsibility
and their citizenship skills.
-
Increased awareness of community needs, believed they could make a
difference, and were committed to service in the future;
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Were more likely to think about politics and morality in society;
more likely to consider how to effect social change;
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Greater sense of civic responsibility and an ethic of service;
and
-
Increased understanding of how government works.
Service-learning
provides an avenue for students to become active, positive
contributors to society.
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More likely to be engaged in community organization and to vote;
-
Increased political awareness; more politically active;
and
-
80% felt they had made a positive contribution to their community.
The Impact of
Service-Learning on Academic Learning Service-learning helps
students acquire academic skills and knowledge.
-
Moderate to strong gains on student achievement tests in language
arts, and/or reading, engagement in school, sense of educational accomplishment, and
homework completion;
-
Associated with higher scores on the state test of basic skills and
higher grades;
-
Service-learning tutoring programs helped “at risk” student to
improve grade point averages; these students were also less likely to drop out of school;
and
-
Improved problem-solving skills and increased interest in academics.
Students who
participate in service-learning are more engaged in their studies
and more motivated to learn. Service-learning is associated with
increased student attendance.
The Impact
of Service-Learning on Career Exploration and Aspirations
Service-learning
helps students to become more knowledgeable and realistic about
careers.
-
Gain in career related skills, communication skills, and positive
increases in career exploration knowledge; and
-
More positive work orientation attitudes and skills.
The Impact of
Service-Learning on Schools
Service-learning results in greater mutual respect between teachers and
students. Service-learning improves the overall school climate.
Engaging in service-learning leads to discussions of teaching and
learning and best ways for students to learn.
The Impact of
Service Learning on Communities
Service-learning leads to more positive perceptions of school and
youth by community members.
“I
think service learning is important because it teaches
you things as you do them rather than just learning
about it in a text book and then never using the
information.”
