Practice And Reflection About Service-Learning From A Social Work Perspective

In recent years,some university teachers have attempted to introduce service-learning into professional courses in which way to improve the learning ability,introspection ability and critical ability of students.Although service-learning is a newly emerging matter in China instead of a mainstream educational model,it becomes more and more popular among participants owing to its characteristic of combining theoretical study in the classroom with social services.The research herein,relying on the example of introducing the service-learning education model into Advanced Social Work Practice,a social work course,will indicate that students can link classroom theories with the practice learning of social services under this situation.Based on the social work projects,students can join in specific serving practice of projects including the service project called Growing up With Companions for migrant children in cities,the helping and supporting service project named Caring for the Elderly for vulnerable groups,social assistance project for urban groups who are in difficulties,safe sex education project for children in rural areas arranged by an voluntary organization named Anhui Taiyangsan,etc.With the foundation of on-the-spot participation,the author will apply research methods of literature,interviews and observation,obtaining first-hand information through interviewing and observing service-learning participants including students,professional social workers and service objects.Furthermore,this paper will summarize course objectives,implementation process,development features,reflective content and influencing factors considering the service-learning absorbed into Advanced Social Work Practice as a professional education course of social work,analyze the roles and functions that the following four levels play and possess,i.e.school,institution,teachers and students.Meanwhile,solutions and suggestions will be provided from different aspects like institution selection,supervisor training,system guarantee,assessment approach and motivation strengthening of main participants.Finally,the author will try to propose the service-learning teaching mode that is suitable for MSW courses on the basis of researches and practice.