Service Learning and Teacher Education. Linking Learning with Life.

Overview & Synopsis

This book concerns potential and actual uses of service learning as an instructional methodology in teacher education. Section 1 discusses how service and learning are primary to practically all roles teachers play. Section 2, a rationale for service learning and teacher education, shows consistency with Goals 2000, school-to-work transition, and character education. Section 3 describes components of service learning in teacher education: planning, implementation and project monitoring, reflection and celebration, and evaluation and reporting. Section 4 addresses issues and challenges--collaboration, faculty professional development, funding, scheduling and transportation, and curriculum integration. Section 5 offers teacher education students' opinions of service learning experiences: opportunities to learn about people from different cultures; its support of individual growth; and insights gained into the persona of being a professional educator. Section 6 describes promising practices: integrating service learning in the student teaching experience or throughout the internship year, seminars, and journals. Section 7 discusses benefits in three areas: students, faculty, and program functioning. Section 8 addresses three levels of assessment: documenting the status of service learning, assessing its effectiveness in teacher education, and evaluating its impact. Section 9 offers possibilities for putting service learning into teacher education programs. Contains 18 references. (YLB)