Introduction

The Process

Outcomes

Introduction to Service Learning
Service learning is an intentional process of teaching and experiential learning that uses hands-on service and reflective thinking to provide richness and meaning to service experiences.

This definition means that service learning experiences are planned with clear goals, follows an intentional process, uses “hands on” experiences, and employs critical thinking skills to process the experience.  When used together, service experiences can have a deep and lasting impact on youth and adults. 

Hands-on service cannot be substituted by books, videos, or broad anecdotes.  What better way is there to learn or be challenged than by actually experiencing something first-hand and then discussing it or thinking about it later?  With service learning, members of groups share a common experience on which to base their reflection. 

Service learning in a Christian environment allows youth to apply the perspective of their Christian faith to service experiences.  Youth and adults together can explore and deepen their faith, being challenged to fulfill the call of Jesus to care for others and how their lives might wholly reflect this call. 

The Service Learning Process
The service learning process is a tool to aid youth and adults in intentional planning of  service experiences that produce longer-term, transforming effects on youth and adults.

Service learning activities are planned with a four-stage process:

Preparation: Anticipation of, and preparation for, a service experience. 

The service project that you choose for your group should be done intentionally, as the motivation for the project will guide much of the process.

One way to begin is to name what you want the group to learn or experience.  Whether it is about the concept of grace, the growing homelessness concerns in your own community, malnutrition in Asian children, or to deepen awareness of another culture, start by naming your principle learning objectives.  Consider:  What do you want young people to feel or experience?  What do you want them to learn?  How do you want their attitudes or behaviors to change? 

Or, determine which existing service activities your group is already involved in and how you might enrich those present experiences with the integration of service learning components, such as a greater focus on preparation or post-service reflection. 

Preparation also includes careful attention to building community, determining expectations, and taking care of logistical issues.  Don’t circumvent the process by skipping the important elements of preparation!



Action: Engaging in a meaningful service experience.

The beauty of the Action stage is that it will be different for every group and every experience of service that ever happens!  This stage includes any activity (large or small!) that allows young people to engage in unselfish service to, with, or on behalf of others.  Challenge yourself to think outside the box in creating service activities!


Reflection: Process of deep reflection and learning during and following a service experience.

The Reflection stage has been called the “linchpin” of the service learning process.  It is crucial!  In critical reflection, individuals create meaning and gain new knowledge from their experiences … often in “Ah-ha!” moments.  Youth and adults together can share, analyze, and evaluate experiences and can reinforce or form new opinions.

The most common form of reflection is group discussion about the experience.  Moving through a series of questions to help youth analyze their feelings and thoughts about the experience, conversation can shift toward determine how any new learning can be applied to their lives, including how God is calling them to use this experience.

Consider a variety of options for reflection, including creative methods that engage both sides of the brain.  Use popular music relevant to the experience, tell stories, write poetry or songs, create a collage, or share photography or a video.  Invite creativity!


Celebration: Recognizing the ministry that has been accomplished through the service experience.

It is time to celebrate!  Celebration offers an opportunity for young people to honor the work accomplished and to continue to tell the stories of their experiences.  In effect, it can be a continuation of the Reflection stage, as preparing for celebratory events also requires adequate reflection to determine what and how best it is to share with others. 

The Celebration stage can include worship services, Bible studies, considering a longer-term commitment to the service site, evaluating the service project, and/or engaging ongoing conversation about “What next?”

Outcomes of the Service Learning Process

Over-arching outcome: Service learning leads to life transformation where young people grow in compassion, community, advocacy, lifelong servanthood, leadership, and exploration of vocation.

This transformation is a process in which youth strive to live as faithful Christian people in this world.  Through experiences of unselfish service toward, with, and on behalf of others, young people are “new,” transformed in their Christian faith, relationships, thought processes, expressed attitudes, and future action as they live out their baptismal calling. 

Through service learning, young people will continue their growth in discipleship and service and begin to display greater measures of the following six outcomes:

Compassion:  Youth will be called to be mature Christians who hold a deep and hopeful sense of compassion for the world and all God’s people. Young people develop a deep sense of compassion when they are given an opportunity to “experience the other” and join them in moments hurt, pain, sorrow, longing, or loneliness, or in times of joy, hope or discovery.

Community: Youth will be drawn into community, including those they serve and those with whom they serve.  As young people serve, they can be drawn deeper yet into genuine community.  By sharing the stories, the joys and the pains of those to whom they are ministering, they are naturally drawn into community with them.  Christian community is not formed because of similar physical traits, abilities, or lifestyles … but that a group of people share the same Lord (Galatians 3:26-28).

Advocacy: Youth will work for justice, becoming advocates for the urgent needs of the world.  Advocacy moves beyond servanthood and asks the bigger, tougher questions: Why are these people sick?  How is it that this park is always littered?  What leads people to be homeless?  Why are soup kitchens needed?

Lifelong Servanthood: Youth will become naturally and joyfully engaged in lifelong service to others.  The Christian life involves a call to lifelong servanthood.  We are called into repeated and frequent displays of service, no matter the size of the task, context, amount of preparation, or recognition received.  Any service done in Christ’s name is significant ministry!

Leadership: Youth will desire to engage in leadership of others and will use their gifts of leadership in service to others.  Rich experiences in service toward others instill in young people the desire to lead others into similar experiences.  Providing youth the opportunity for leadership means they are empowered to make contributions to the world in which they live.  (A reminder: Adults share equally in this task of promoting leadership by inviting youth to share the gifts entrusted to them!)

Exploration of Vocation: Youth will explore God’s call for their life and deepen their sense of vocation.  Meaningful experiences in service usually lead young people to a new or renewed sense of vocation.  Vocations are not limited to public pastoral ministries; they can be extensive and unrestrained:  one who teaches, pastors, administers, learns, parents, or befriends (as examples), transcending any particular career or job.  These vocations come to life in the daily work of God’s people!


This introduction to service learning is adapted from Mark J. Jackson, “Service Learning Overview, Model & Outcomes.” February 2006.  Download complete document here.

© 2006 Service And Learning Leadership Training (SALLT) Project, Trinity Lutheran College.