Service Learning Essay -- Education Educating College University Essay

The Society for Experiential Education defines service learning as, â€Å"any carefully monitored service experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience† (Staton 1). Service learning is a great opportunity to get extra learning experiences while also experiencing the community around the universities campus. â€Å"Service learning allows students to apply what they are learning from their instructors, peers, and readings to genuine tasks that occur outside the four walls of the classroom while simultaneously helping others† (Staton 1). Universities are using service learning to expand beyond the classroom and provide students with experiences that will benefit them in the future. Service learning provides students with some fundamental aspects of life that can simply not be taught in the classroom. Service learning is a very beneficial tool in expanding on class room topics in the real world. There are numerous reasons why universities should incorporate service learning into their curriculum. One way that service learning is so beneficial to college curriculums is that it will cheapen the price of credit hours. Many universities have made the service learning free credits, which will appeal to students when they are making the decision to attend school. And trust me, as a college student, the cheaper the credit hour the more appealing the school is. Another very beneficial aspect of service learning in curriculums is that it gives students a taste of the â€Å"real world†. â€Å"Service learning allows students to apply what they are learning to real-world problems, become more involved in the community surrounding the campus, and develop career g... ...nication† (Staton 3). The students in these classrooms really benefit from the extra communication skills that are taught by the college students. Service learning is a program that many universities around the country have turned to in order to improve their curriculum. It provides students with many excellent opportunities to go out in the community and get more then just a typical â€Å"college education.† The students who have been involved in service learning feel that they have become well-rounded human beings and have a taste of what it is like to function in the real world. Another great part of service learning is that not only the students benefit from it. The university, as well as the surrounding community are both rewarded by the program. Service learning is a great program that can be incorporated into any subject matter that a university offers.