The personal perspectives of a teacher can support or hinder successful outcomes for students with disabilities. With the increasing prevalence of diverse and inclusive P-12 classrooms, the attitude of the general education teacher is of great importance. Consequently, it is imperative that teacher preparation programs work with community partners…

The purpose of this paper is to describe an educational partnership experience between rural retailers and graduate students in a Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles program. Students were afforded an opportunity to work with small business owners in rural communities, giving them real world exposure to the actual challenges being faced by…

This case study recounts a collaborative service-learning project involving a children's museum, a university faculty member, and undergraduate students. Students worked with the museum to conduct a visitor study examining community reactions to a new exhibit designed to promote children's health and nutrition. At the same time, students learned…

Research in teacher education suggests that field experiences in community settings can offer pre-service teachers a context for understanding the link between theory and practice. This paper documents the experiences of pre-service educators participating in a service-learning experience at a Children's Defense Fund Freedom School in the…

The traditional model of academic service through faculty expertise and consultation is being supplemented by "service-learning" that focuses on students. Benefits of this new model are discussed. (Editor/LBH)

Examples of service-learning at Stanford and Michigan State illustrate one dimension of the service function and point to two other dimensions as life-style possibilities for students and career goals for faculty. Specific programs and their rationale are described. (Editor/LBH)

This document investigates the educational impact of service-learning internships arranged in North Carolina. Emphasis is placed on what students report they learn in service-learning internships and what conditions support those learnings. Results indicate the learning benefits most frequently felt by student interns was (1) the development of…

Describes community-connected learning, an approach where community members become teachers and mentors in their local schools. Highlights include examples of projects; use of technology, including the Web; project-based curriculum; understanding the importance of community-responsive organizations and volunteerism; internships at local…

Commitment to the improvement of the social order underlies and challenges the kind of educational program that Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, strives to offer its students. Between 63 and 73 percent of traditionally-aged seniors at Saint Joseph's indicated that they participated in some form of community service during…

Two White Pass School District (Washington) programs increase community cohesiveness despite troubled economic times: (1) the school district offers adult education, utilizes community talent, and hosts community recreation events; and (2) the Forest Service, school district, and community college developed a summer job program for secondary…

The Center of Excellence for Rural Special Education at Clemson University (South Carolina) has developed a field-based undergraduate preservice teacher training program. During the fall and spring semesters of their senior year, preservice teachers are matched with a mentor special education teacher for 2 weeks in a rural school district of the…

The 27 chapters of this book provide presentations, conference transcripts, manuals, and reflections by organizers, coordinators, participants, students and staff of service-learning sociology and education courses at the University of Michigan. The chapters are: "What National and Community Service Mean for Higher Education" (Goodwin…