It's one thing for students to read about civic responsibility and community engagement in a textbook. But it's another for students to take part in the community to grow their awareness of civic responsibility.

 

When teachers encourage students to participate in service learning experiences, they take academic learning beyond hypothetical scenarios and offer students hands-on learning experiences embedded in the community.

 

"In most situations of direct service, children get to meet the community members whom they are serving and they are more likely to understand how the subjects they learn about connect to communities," said Caitlin McMunn Dooley, College of Education associate professor.

 

Dooley and Clinical Assistant Professor Lydia Criss Mays, who implement service learning experiences with Early Childhood Education students each semester, offer their tips for implementing such opportunities with students and communities.  

  

To view service learning tips, click here.

 

Photo caption: Early childhood education students set up a table in front of the Georgia State University Library as part of their service learning project on providing books to children.