PACERS Small Schools Cooperative, a 29-school cooperative in rural Alabama, operates an innovative program in which student projects both serve the community and preserve community traditions. Describes how information technology enables the advantages of small schools to flower. Discusses addressing policies and mindsets that hinder development…

The Practical Life aspect of Montessori education offers middle school students opportunities to take on responsibilities and develop job readiness skills. Practical Life skill training relates to self-guidance, navigation, grace and courtesy, caring for others, and management of responsibilities, time, and money. Community service in the…

A study in the Vaal Triangle (South Africa) investigated the extent of Vaal Triangle Technikon students' participation in economic and social development activities on campus and within the surrounding community, identified community projects and development activities in which students might participate, and assessed student attitudes about…

Twelve social work students in southern Illinois completed their field placement in a rural community-based agency. Analysis of students' reflective logs demonstrates their progressive development in the areas of rapport building with clients, understanding organizational aspects of the agency, awareness of community issues and resources, and…

Describes a model for situating an English-as-a- Second-or-Other-Language (ESOL) methods course in a Spanish speaking community. Organized ESOL classes for children and adults in a Latino neighborhood that serve as a practicum for university students working for ESOL teaching endorsements and as a service learning project in the methods course so…

Profiles the accomplishments and philosophies of three individuals who strongly advocated community service and who profoundly influenced the field of experiential education, including Robert K. Greenleaf, author of "Servant Leadership"; Alec Dickson, who traveled extensively to promote the development of community service organizations…

Explores community service learning as a way of revitalizing schools while integrating students into life in their communities. Service learning needs to be more than a single activity so that students see it in more than school terms. Several examples of student service projects are given. (SLD)

Programs that educate students about their local community's history and ecology, and enable student interaction with the community through service and experiential learning are helpful to high-risk students, promote socially responsible citizenship, instill a sense of place, and can develop local funding and resources. Gives examples of local…

Describes a community project (based on Kenneth Koch's book "I Never Told Anybody") in which students in a ninth-grade English class paired up with nursing home residents, making regular visits to encourage them to write poetry. Discusses finding a place, getting ready, working together, and what students learned about writing poetry and about…

Relates how a local teen court was established in Knox County, Illinois. Discusses the teen court concept, the purpose of such courts, and their relationship to official courts. Describes the Knox County Teen Court's development of a Web site and the benefits that it has brought to the community. (DSK)

A study based on data from 1,500 students at 20 colleges and universities found that students who combined community service and academic study (service learning) differed from those who did not, in their target attitudes, skills, values, and understanding of social issues. Participation in service learning had an impact on these outcomes over the…

A study investigated the effects of service-learning projects conducted by 255 student teachers and designed in cooperation with their cooperating teachers. Drawing on survey and case-study data, it was found that classroom-based service-learning projects, if structured carefully, can contribute to student-teacher empowerment and enhanced…

One college's multisemester community service learning project involves upper-level accounting-information students in field research, grant writing, and problem solving for nonprofit organizations. A professional organization provides the funding needed to perform this service for nonprofit organizations across the state. The approach may be…

Discusses what has been learned about building school/community partnerships through the "Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation Program," a national demonstration program of service-learning in health-professions education. Issues include: the challenge of distinguishing service learning from clinical experience; community attitudes…

Describes an effort to institutionalize service learning within the academic departments of the University of Utah. A community service center at the university, through its faculty advisory committee, developed campus-wide support for incorporating service learning into the core offerings of 14 academic units. Models developed by the academic…