The Importance of Service-learning for Students: Self-reflection

Service-learning is an educational approach that basically involves a cycle of actions. In order to make service learning a reality, there is the need to make some reflections. These cycles are necessary when students seek to achieve real objectives for the community. I also consider service learning as the process that helps students to develop a deeper understanding of various theoretical concepts. As a result, students are able to obtain a pragmatic and progressive learning experience while at the same time meeting the needs of the society. The research we did doing our school’s partnership with Pearl-Cohn High School was about learning. Service learning is a widespread program that aims to actively engage students in a wide range of experiences. I also learned that service-learning could help students to advance the goals of a given curriculum. The process of service-learning is widely used since it allows the application of theoretical models. As a result, students are given a chance to synthesize course materials in a more meaningful way. The process of service-learning is vital in help students to relate theory with real-world applications.

In a project like this, I would like to use Static as my main character. This is because admire the way he tackles every challenge that befalls him. In social learning, there is a need to take action. For instance, there is no way students can solve societal problems if they don’t take necessary actions. Every society has different problems; therefore, there is a need to take necessary actions depending on the situation. For instance, Static is seen confronting some Dark Side Club members when they tried to tell their leader Desaad that they will getaway. Seeing this, Static goes ahead and stopped them since he heard them saying something stupid. This action by Static only requires someone who is brave. Therefore, these acts of bravery are just but an indication of how problems can be solved. Furthermore, this comic helps us to understand that it is necessary to take action while solving some problems. This is true since the lack of action can lead to the intensification of a certain problem. In this case, static is a true indication that every problem can be better addressed using certain actions.

During our practical at Pearl-Cohn High School, I discovered that service learning plays a significant role in the life of a student. I also learned that service-learning as a process could help students to learn how to tackle real-life problems in their society. As I continue to reflect upon what I learnt, I think it is truly important to give service learning more priority during studies. I further learned that I could achieve or solve many social problems and help other societal members. To do this, I have to push myself in a class by studying more books and articles on service learning. This is the only way I can strengthen my understanding of various concepts related to service-learning. In service-learning, students must learn how to actively engage their knowledge when carrying out community programs. This is the reason this kind of learning is considered to be experimental. Sometimes it is difficult to apply the theoretical concepts learned in class without experimenting. Therefore, it is vital for students to always strive to achieve real objectives for the community. Another thing that I learned concerning this process is that students must always be ready to link their personal and social development with cognitive development. Further, it is vital for students to link their personal development with real-time experiences in order to take more effective actions.

While at the Pearl-Cohn High School, I discovered that most community projects are designed in such a way that makes it easier for students to apply their course content. This design tends to be favorable since it them experimental opportunities to learn in real-world contexts. The skills obtained can thereafter, be used to develop various abilities of community engagement. I further learnt that this platform gives students an opportunity to afford community partner opportunities to help them in addressing significant needs.

The knowledge obtained at Pearl-Cohn High School matched my expectations. This is because I expected to find how I can apply the knowledge obtained in class in solving societal problems. Indeed, the exercise helped me a lot in learning how to make a difference in our local community. For instance, I was trained on how to integrate class objectives, community perspective, and faculty guidance in solving societal problems. The program was also vital since it helped me to demonstrate success both academically and interpersonally.

As I continue reflecting on my experience at Pearl-Cohn High School, I noted that any service learning that offers students structured opportunities is considered to be the most effective. This is because students need an opportunity to reflect upon themselves in terms of opinions, beliefs, assumptions, and judgments. Students also need to evaluate themselves in terms of practices that relate to action with an aim of helping them to gain a better understanding of them. I also noted that when students are given a chance to evaluate themselves, they typically become capable of constructing their own meaning and significance for future actions.

Pearl-Cohn High School helped me to understand different ways we can use service-learning in this class in the future. To begin with, we should adopt a strength-based mechanism in achieving practical solutions. This approach is vital since it will help the student to focus on capacity as well as the capacity that exists in every community. As a class, we can only achieve this if we shift away from s deficit mentality. Our teachers should, therefore, allow us to learn more about partnership strategies so as to identify and develop unique strengths in each community.

In the future, we should strive to dedicate our time and talent and intellectual capacity during service-learning. Once we take these actions, we will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the course material. Students will also be able to gain the nuanced nature of social issues. I further urge the course instructors to modify the teaching practice to make it more relevant to the existing societal problems. This is because some current service-learning concepts don’t help in solving the many societal problems. Therefore, frequent modifications are vital since we are living in dynamic societies that change from time to time.

Moving forward, I urge our course instructors to introduce a mandatory question and answer sessions. These sessions will allow students to ask instructors questions in a sporadic manner. This type of invention will help the instructors to compile frequently asked questions, and they provide ready answers especially those aimed at solving societal problems. These sessions will be vital since they will help fill the gap caused by student’s different backgrounds. I will try to use these approaches with the Pearl-Cohn since both of them play a significant role in helping students to obtain a pragmatic and progressive learning experience while at the same time meeting the needs of the society. These approaches can further be used with the Pearl-Cohn since they help students to learn how to tackle real-life problems in their society.

The use of service-learning has helped me to envision many things. These things are vital since they help in making social learning more interactive. To begin with, I envision the inclusion of group discussions during service-learning. The main reason I prefer such a group is because they are considered to be fun. It is also an interesting way leaners can engage easily with their instructors. During group discussions, try to allow both general and specialized debates. Group discussions are vital since members come from different communities where challenges are unique.

Therefore, students can learn how to solve problems in different communities after a successful discussion in service-learning. Student leadership is another thing that should be given a lot of consideration on how to apply their knowledge outside classroom. By giving students a chance from the beginning, you will help them participate in all aspects of a project. Once given this opportunity, students will learn how to communicate better and make use of work ethics especially when engaging in community projects. I further envision the use of reflection, demonstration, and celebration in service-learning. The inclusion of these aspects will help in the sharing of experiences by those involved in service-learning.