Regarding the types of services, Service Learning can be:


  • Direct Service

    • This type of SL involves directly the students and their engagement is usually performed at the site of service. It regards person-to-person, face-to-face service projects in which the students’ service directly impacts individuals who receive the service from the students. 

    Examples of direct service may include coaching a youth activity in a low-income area or participation in the co-creation of a community garden in a local neighborhood.

    kids playing together

  • Indirect Service-Learning

    • In the case of indirect SL activity, students meet a community need identified by a community partner (an NGO, a cooperative, a local support organization, a local public authority, etc.) without necessarily their direct engagement with the community. 

    Examples of indirect service may include planning fundraising activities for a community organization, developing a social media strategy for a community action group, and cleaning a community park.

    volunteers

  • Research-Based Service-Learning

    • This type of SL refers to the collaboration of students with a community partner to conduct research that addresses community issues or needs. Partners may be nonprofit groups, government agencies, or community leaders. 

    Examples of community-based research projects would be: testing water reports provided to a local community, mapping state lands and monitoring flora and fauna, and gathering data for a community grant application.

    photographer

  • Advocacy-Based Service-Learning

    • A type of service where students seek to raise awareness or educate others on public topics that concern to the community partner and/or the greater community. 

    Examples of this type of service would include: conducting public information campaigns on topics of interest or local needs or planning and executing public forums that address community environmental issues.

    presentation

Share your thoughts

thoughts

Were you aware of any of the above presented Service learning (SL) types? If yes, which one? In your opinion, which one of these SL types is the most interesting and useful to apply in your courses and why?

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