This Service-Learning page will provide you with valuable information about service-learning in general, as well as the details and processes at the UW-Madison. We hope this information helps you understand our reasons for supporting service-learning and why we are excited to work collaboratively with you on this effort.
What is Service-Learning?
The Morgridge Center for Public Service defines it as “A method of joining academic theory with service to enhance student learning.” It is an intentional teaching strategy that engages students in organized service activities and guided reflection; the service activities benefit the client or community and, in combination with reflection, enhance the academic curriculum of participating students.
Service-Learning vs. Volunteerism
Typically, with community service and volunteerism, the benefits are focused on the service recipients. The students receive some benefits by learning more about how their service makes a difference in the lives of the service recipients, but there are no specific learning objectives. While these activities frequently provide a great learning experience, there are no measurable, defined academic goals. Every service-learning activity has carefully spelled out learning objectives that are tied to a specific college course.
Service-learning is not:
An episodic volunteer program
An add-on to an existing school or college curriculum
Logging a set number of community service hours in order to graduate
Compensatory service assigned as a form of punishment by the courts or by school administrators
Only for high school or college students
One-sided: benefiting only students or only the community
Examples:
A health education course in which students practice the health concepts they've studied by teaching stress management skills to a community group
An engineering course in which students work to design adaptive devices for people with specific disabilities
A Spanish course in which students practice their speaking skills by providing recreational programs for children in the Latino community
Benefits to Community
Helps meet unmet community needs
Exposes and teaches communities about emerging generations of students
Helps establish access and connections to other resources available at the University
Provides an opportunity for a community to shape students' values and to prepare students for community participation during and after college
Service-Learning and Community Based Research Manual for Community Partners
For more information about Service-Learning, please reference our manual for community partners.
Service-Learning Courses
The number of service-learning course offered each semesters varies in number and by department. To view the list of service-learning courses for this semester, click here.
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