Faculty: Why do Service-Learning?

What is Service-Learning?

Service-Learning is a method by which students learn through active participation in thoughtfully organized service conducted in and meeting the needs of the community. Service-learning is integrated into and enhances the academic curriculum. It includes structured means for reflection on the service experience and helps to foster civic and corporate responsibility. As a pedagogy, service-learning emerges from experiential learning theory and encourages active student involvement in the learning process.

Why do we do Service-Learning?

Service-Learning is Chaminade’s Mission Statement in action. It:

• “offers its students an education in a collaborative learning environment”
• “prepares them for life, work and service”
• “encourages the development of moral character and personal competencies, and the commitment to build a just and peaceful society”
• “offers the civic and church communities of the Pacific region its academic and intellectual resources in the pursuit of common aims”

Service-Learning helps to bridge the “real world” and the classroom. Research, both locally and nationwide, has shown that service-learning is effective as a method of teaching and as a means of learning. It helps improve students’ grades, test scores, attendance, and self-confidence. It builds critical thinking and communication skills and fosters civic engagement, while allowing students to test and apply what they are learning in the classroom.

We at Chaminade University seek to grow into Jesus’ spirit of service; His life was a life of service to all humankind. He demonstrated the imperative to love one another. In striving to follow this example, we encourage service-learning.