Warren Wilson College

What Is Service-Learning?

Service-Learning is fundamentally an academic endeavor in which service is an integrated component of a course. It is an experiential education approach that involves an established community partnership guided by the expertise of professors and community-based practitioners, working together with students to address community needs.

Why Service-Learning?

The principles of service-learning are similar to that of experiential education, in that students are most apt to retain course content when they are given an opportunity to actually see the discipline functioning in "the real world," so to speak. Each discipline taught at the college level can be made relevant to the complexities of our communities and, indeed ought to be made relevant if there is not a direct and obvious correlation between its theoretical base and today's social, political, economic and even scientific interactions. It is the very relevancy of the disciplines taught at Warren Wilson College that give the pedagogy of service-learning a natural foothold in our diverse courses.

Recent Examples of Service-Learning Courses at Warren Wilson College

To view recent examples of service-learning courses at the College, click HERE

What Students Are Saying about Service-Learning

Child Development (PSY 203) with Vicki Garlock

"Really enjoyed the service element because it brought the triad experience into the classroom."

"I experienced a lot of 'A Ha!' moments relating the theory to practice."

Exploration in Science Education (EDU 293) with Amy Boyd

"I feel that I could have read over the handouts a thousand times and it would not have had the same effect as actually seeing the animals and participating in caring for them."

"Volunteering [at the Health Adventure] has taught me a lot about different teaching techniques."

Introduction to Environmental Education (ENS 126) with Mallory McDuff

"The teaching experience [with the forth graders] painted a clearer picture of the theories taught in class and allowed me to see how it is applied in real situations."

"The kids loved being outside, seeing and experiences what they are learning in the classroom, thanks so much."

How to Get Your Classroom Involved

Faculty members are encouraged to contact Franklin Tate, Assistant Dean of Service-Learning, at 771-3774 or ftate@warren-wilson.edu to discuss possible connections between a course's objectives and the needs of local non-profit agencies. Service-learning courses should be initiated at least one semester in advance, so plan accordingly.

Faculty members should also check out:

Web-based Resources for Faculty

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