Research On Service Learning In American Universities

Service Leaning, a kind of educational experience combining community service with courses and activities, provides real situation for students to observe, check and reflect their major knowledge in order to make them have a deep understanding about their knowledge and social issues.This thesis chooses Service Learning in American universities and colleges as the object,which is based on such domestic and international backgrounds---First, the requirements about training of bright people are creativity,applied and full of reflection and response. While during our training of talented people in university,we lack of the idea of reflection and the ability of transferring the theories into practice.Second, being different from traditional volunteer service, Service Learning in America attaches importance to learning, reflection and reciprocity which make practical significance to school, students and community. Last, Service Learning combining with courses and activities has become great force in educational teaching reform at home and broad. Thus, this thesis conducts deep study about Service Learning through literature analysis method and case study method. After gathering,learning and analyzing literature materials,this thesis has made them clear about its characteristics, theories and historical development, besides, taking Louisiana State University and Elon University as cases to further studying the application of Service Learning to Higher Education especially the form of combining with courses. All these aim at further exploring the practice of Service Learning and concluding its successful experiences so as to make practical suggestions to our educational reform.Based on a comprehensive analysis of Service Learning in America, this thesis deplores its experiences and enlightenments. It reveals that, the development of Service Learning owes to the policy and capital support from the government. Besides,the effective management of Service Learning in colleges and universities makes it more successful. Colleges and universities not only provide policy guidance, set special organizations to coordinate and manage. What’s more, immersing Service Learning into courses and combining with communities to build partnership to synergetically develop Service Learning. And the communities participate actively in the program or courses. So these shape a way of community engaged learning to improve students’ ability of solving social problem. In the end, reflecting on our educational way of teaching and practicing on the basis of experiences of American Service Learning, this thesis concludes some main enlightenments: Firstly,colleges and universities should immerse the idea of Service Learning into teaching;Secondly, colleges and universities need attach great attention to the service activities and provide organizational resources to support its development; Thirdly, colleges and communities should develop reciprocal partnership to participate in the service practice jointly.