Service-Learning Essentials: Questions, Answers, and Lessons Learned

Chapter 1 Introduction to Service-Learning

This chapter defines service-learning and highlights the differences between service-learning and other related experiences. It includes service-learning's fundamental principles, theoretical foundations, and an overview of its history, benefits, and current scope and practices. This basic information is designed to be useful for those new to service-learning as well as for those with substantial service-learning experience. Colleagues who are immersed in the myriad details of service-learning often tell me that they find it refreshing and inspiring to periodically review its underlying concepts, theoretical underpinnings, and guiding principles. I wholeheartedly agree with them.

1.1 What ...