Service Learning Western Kentucky University's Center for Teaching and Learning Exploring the Scholarship of Teaching . . . Assumes that student motivation to learn is enhanced when course activities are involved in fulfilling real world needs. Civic responsibility, as well as critical thinking, is enhanced with this method. The role of the instructor is to reinforce the links between the service activity and the course.
Major challenges are to sustain programs and to sustain the depth of learning of the content.
The integration of structured service learning activities throughout the curriculum is one teaching strategy that assists in meeting these challenges. The expected outcome is for the student to develop a commitment to social responsibility both as an individual and member of his or her chosen profession. This outcome is more likely achieved when faculty collectively identifies service learning as an important program emphasis. Service learning is appropriate for the discipline of nursing which like other service disciplines exist to meet the needs of society. The integration of service learning into the nursing curriculum creates educational opportunities for students to internalize the value of service while achieving these essential professional competencies.