Service Learning
Welcome to the website for Region 7 of Service-Learning! Region 7 includes Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare counties. Using the links to the right, you can find information about Service-Learning and how it is implemented in each of these counties.
Service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. In the past several years, service-learning has spread rapidly throughout communities, K-12 institutions, and college universities.
As of now, 349 schools participate to equal 712,000 students participating in some form of service. About one-tenth of their faculty offers service-learning courses, where 6,272 service-learning courses are taught. Around 30 of these 349 schools require service-learning courses for graduation.
The intent of Service-Learning is to promote learning through active participation in service experiences, provide structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing and writing about their service experience, provide an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations, extend learning beyond the classroom and into the community, and foster a sense of caring for others.
Because of its connection to content acquisition and student development, service-learning is often linked to school and college courses, and inspires these educational organizations to build strong partnerships with community-based organizations. Service-learning can also be organized and offered by community organizations with learning objectives or structured reflection activities for their participants.
Whatever the setting, the core element of service-learning is always the intent that both providers and recipients find the experience beneficial, even transforming. For more information about Service-Learning, please visit servicelearning.org.
