Impact of service learning on social interactions of high school students in an inclusive word processing class

Service Learning (SL) is an instructional method that connects learning with performing a service that meets the authentic needs of the community. SL can help students with disabilities develop social interactions with their peers without disabilities. This study evaluated the impact of SL on social interactions of students with and without disabilities in an inclusive high school Word Processing class through observations, questionnaires, reflections, focus group discussions and interviews.;The results suggest that SL had a positive impact on peer interactions of the students but that certain changes could be made to the SL intervention to yield better results. Observation data showed that social and engaged peer interactions of students with and without disabilities increased during SL. In reflections and focus group meetings, students described positively about their experience in helping others and engaging in teamwork. In teacher interviews, the general education teacher observed positive peer interactions during SL. However, pre and post administration of Questionnaire of Social Competence did not find any significant difference. The teacher also expressed a concern that the level of work the project demanded did not match the abilities of students with disabilities. Through analysis and evaluation of the data collected, the following themes were discussed: (a) peer interactions, (b) teamwork, and (c) conditions of inclusive environments.