Service Learning Summer Institute

Service Learning student tutoring at Alta Vista High School

In Your Syllabus

Provide a definition of and rationale for Service Learning

See links to sample syllabi below.

Link service to learning objectives

Adapted from Loyola University, Community Engaged Learning, Teaching and Scholarship http://www.loyno.edu/engage/learning-objectives

Professors should formulate at least one course-specific service learning objective and include it on the course syllabus.

A learning objective is an intended outcome: a specific area of knowledge students should master, a specific skill-set students should hone, or a thematic or topical area students with which students should become familiar. 

Service learning objectives connect intended outcomes to service activities as a means of achieving them.  Service learning objectives include the service activity as the "how." 

Learning objectives can be formulated as statements: "Students will [X]."  Service learning objectives can be formulated as: "Students will [X] by doing [Y]."

Examples of service learning objectives:

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will examine the strengths and weaknesses of educational policy arguments BY (means) tutoring in local public schools.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will observe, understand and be able to reproduce various accents prevalent throughout the New Orleans community BY (means) conversing and forming relationships with New Orleanians in authentic community-based contexts.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will gain an introductory knowledge of the various forms of forensic evidence BY (means) examining post-conviction criminal files for compelling forensic lacunae.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will learn to communicate scientific topics to a general audience BY (means) developing and presenting an exciting, hands-on science demonstrations to fifth-graders.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will be able to provide examples of the principles of behavioral psychology BY (means) interacting with individuals in authentic community-based contexts throughout New Orleans.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome):  Students will understand risk factors for HIV infection in a community BY (means) serving at HIV prevention and education programs and residences for those living with HIV and AIDS.

OBJECTIVE (intended outcome): Students will learn how to create an advertising campaign BY (means) learning about the mission of and the needs of a non-profit client. 

Additional Resources:

• Campus Compact Syllabus Database
• Syllabi samples from Portland Community College
• Service Learning Ideas by Discipline
• Remote Service Learning Ideas