A Study Of Service Learning In American Elementary And Secondary School

Service learning was originated from America since 1860 s. It gradually developed into a national education campaign and has been widely supported throughout the world. Service learning is a kind of educational philosophy, which combines academic study with community service. It also develops students’ civic responsibility through the community service. Service learning is a kind of teaching method which emphasizes on the subjectivity of students and the interaction between teachers and students. Service learning is still a kind of practice mode, which can promote the development of communities and schools. In order to enrich our educational theory, this paper is mainly about service learning in American elementary and secondary schools.In this paper, it not only comprehensively introduces the basic concepts of service learning, but also introduces the theoretical basis and the history of it. The theoretical basis of service learning are mainly about education, psychology and sociology. This paper summarizes the types of service learning in American elementary and secondary schools, which are divided by nature, by the level of service learning, by the mode of service learning. The paper also sums up the characteristics of service learning which concludes learning-based, cultivating civic consciousness, reinforcing mutual cooperation between schools and communities, emphasizing diversification, emphasizing the effect of reflection. The specific implementation of service-learning must be from preparation to action, reflection, evaluation in American elementary and secondary schools. The article also treats service learning in Massachusetts as a case study to explore and finds out the security system, process, result and feedback, which makes service learning be successfully carried out. Finally, we ’ve gotten some inspiration which can make service learning be carried out better in our country. The inspiration mainly include establishing the educational model of the cooperation among families, schools and communities education, establishing a new relationship between teachers and students and paying attention to students’ personality and ability of innovation, making full use of community resources, developing school-based curriculum, establishing a scientific evaluation system of education.