Resources
A case of community-based service learning in the School of Theology at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa is analyzed for what it means to teach biblical studies in an African context where biblical scholarship is partially constituted by ordinary African readers of the Bible and where context is a central pedagogical concept. Reflecting on a series of experiments over the past ten years in two second-year University level modules, the article analyzes the contours of a partnership between the academy and local communities of the poor, working-class, and marginalized through community-based service learning. This partnership provides a form of contextualization that enables students to integrate the forms of engagement with the Bible they bring to their formal theological studies and the forms of critical distance that characterize the discipline of biblical studies.
Service learning pedagogy often assumes a variety of forms when connected with classroom teaching. Through a creative use of service learning pedagogy, the author constructs learning designs that foster student engagement with course content and prompts interrelated connections between the subjects and their own service learning experiences. The author highlights the importance of setting a context for service learning through creating activities linked to learning goals, integrating service learning components with classroom teaching methods, and proactively engaging student apathy, resistance, and faith perspectives through specific assignments that combine experience, analysis, and subject matter. The course described in this essay directly contributed to the author's receiving the 2004 Fortress Press Award for Undergraduate Teaching.
The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to develop a working definition of service-learning, identify the best practices of service-learning in the context of Christian colleges and universities and, based upon that information, develop a model for replication. The study undertaken included: (a) examination of the findings of unpublished data from a survey on service-learning at 90 Christian colleges and universities and notes from a conference on service-learning at faith-based institutions; (b) a thorough review of the literature on service-learning and the mission and purpose of Christian higher education; and (c) interviews with practitioners from seven Christian colleges or universities that met prescribed criteria for best practices in service-learning, A content analysis resulted in a comprehensive definition of service-learning, key elements of best practices in service-learning, and a model which incorporates guidelines for Christian colleges and universities to use when developing service-learning programs. The comprehensive definition incorporates characteristics from previous definitions, but includes an added component of institutional support for service-learning. The best practices in service-learning in Christian higher education corroborate this finding and include key elements. The model for designing a service-learning program at a Christian college builds further upon the definition and best practices and includes eight guidelines. The model guidelines are meant to address the philosophical and practical implications in designing an effective service-learning course and program in Christian institutions of learning. The data from this study strongly suggest that Christian colleges and universities should implement service-learning as a means of furthering their faith-based missions through their curricula. (From the Publisher)
This book provides a basic road map for addressing the critical ethical issues in service-learning in order to prepare students, faculty, and administrators for the sometimes difficult ethical dilemmas that arise during the service-learning process. Included is a synopsis of the theoretical context of moral decision-making and a proposed code of ethics for students, faculty, and administrators and a model of ethical decision-making, as well as a review of current literature on formative and summative assessment in service-learning and an overview of risk management. The book also offers examples of hypothetical dilemmas that consider several perspectives, followed by a set of questions to guide the reader through the model of ethical decision-making. (From the Publisher)
"This publication attempts to provide fundamental theory about service-learning and learning communities, along with descriptions of best practices, lessons learned, and assessment strategies. The text is designed to provide resources to help readers offer service-learning experiences for their students. Learning communities are now commonly structured into colleges and universities across the United States, and research suggests that they increase student engagement and persistence. Coupling learning communities and service learning provides contexts for learning and deepens students' learning experiences, but it requires adjustments to the organization, management, and planning of activities for the course."
A relative newcomer in higher education, service-learning nevertheless has caught on at campuses across the country. While thousands of students, teachers, and community partners are realizing the benefits of this experiential form of education, many others still have questions, particularly, "What exactly is service-learning?" and "How can I do it effectively?" This volume of New Directions for Higher Education answers both questions, beginning with a brief overview and then presenting a series of chapters on getting started, promoting reflection, and otherwise making service-learning work effectively in a variety of settings, from liberal arts colleges to research institutions. Both newcomers and veterans will appreciate the clear, practical advice on such matters as finding community partners, reaching diverse populations, and integrating service-learning and research. (From the Publisher)
This volume, like its series companions, goes beyond simple "how-to" to discuss the implementation of service-learning within religious studies and what that discipline contributes to the pedagogy of service learning. The volume contains both theoretical and pedagogical essays by scholar-teachers in religious studies education, plus a resource guide. (From the Publisher)
