Cathryn Berger Kaye -

Have you noticed? We are experiencing a global groundswell of service. The issues we face as a planet have now risen to a level that calls more of us to action. Through service learning, we can engage our young people in learning about and addressing critical issues—climate change, population migration, hunger, loss of habitat, illiteracy, and more—while contributing to the betterment of themselves and others. Young people, who are cognizant of the issues and have the problem-solving abilities to address them, matter. Providing them with the skills and knowledge to do this vital work, in their own communities and the larger world, adds relevance to the process of education.

While service learning may begin in a single classroom, the increasing value of this pedagogy often leads to a school- and district-wide initiative. In the early days, we thought service learning could be accomplished by adding a small project to whatever kids were studying, or by stopping academics to “make a difference.” Teachers and students from other academic areas or grades became interested and involved perhaps by lending a helping hand, providing information, giving advice, or otherwise joining by directly connecting their content areas to the service. Students from art classes would make posters, or a computer teacher or class would design and create brochures for a campaign on recycling. A math class might generate statistics for a civics or science effort. Service learning classrooms also can serve as natural incubators for school-wide initiatives.

This still occurs; the influence of one successful educator can be transformative. However, now we know more, and we know better. Service learning is a powerful teaching strategy that creates a conducive environment for developing transferable skills and knowledge, high engagement, and relevance that gives meaning and purpose to school—for teachers as well as students.

Teachers continually tell me that their students go beyond required assignments with service learning. They reveal hidden talents, apply themselves in ways that stretch their intellect, retain what they have learned, and transfer the skills and knowledge to new situations. With academic-rich service learning experiences, students are doing astounding work as they prepare our communities for emergencies, repair our coral reefs, protect animals, construct monuments to honor our veterans, and spend time with otherwise lonely elders. When they care about the subject matter and have authenticated a need, students discover intrinsic motivation. This is the key.

Transferable Skills

While the actual service performed may involve reducing our carbon footprint or documenting events in a town’s history, the transferable skills developed through the process are of paramount importance. Consider this list and the intrinsic benefit gained from internalizing these skills and being able to access them in any learning situation. These foundation incremental skills can be deliberately woven into the Five Stages of Service Learning enabling students to:

• ask questions

• listen and retain

• be observant

• identify similarities and differences

• recognize diverse perspectives

• work independently, with partners, and in groups

• identify and apply their skills and talents

• acquire assistance as needed

• be resourceful

• gather and manage information

• summarize

• take notes

• effectively solve problems

• test hypotheses

• follow through with reasonable steps

Explicit inclusion of these skills and other such skills dramatically deepens the service learning experience and applies to all populations of students. Rather than assuming students have these competencies, service learning affords opportunities to develop skills in deliberate and explicit ways as students ask questions to investigate community needs, develop step-by-step plans, construct persuasive arguments, and role-play how to ask for help when a challenge arises. The results are students who can “read” the world around them and know how to apply their skills toward learning and life.