Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

Let Us Pick The Organization: Understanding Adult Student Perceptions Of Service-Learning Practice, Susan C. Reed, Howard Rosing, Helen Rosenberg, Anne Statham

Faculty Publications – College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Service learning offers a pedagogy by which adult students are guided toward understanding their potential for leadership in civic life and community development, strengthening the impact that universities have in communities. In this study, qualitative data is analyzed to determine how adult students perceive their service-learning experiences and what the university could do to involve them more in the future. Respondents provide some evidence that they value opportunities to give back to communities where they have a connection; appreciate hands-on learning that is integrated with classroom learning; benefit from placement experiences that build upon prior knowledge and skills; and prefer …