Service learning is an innovation gaining momentum in U.S. education. A case study was conducted to learn how and why one teacher in a first-year, grant-funded service learning program, cosponsored by an inner-city school district, used literacy in the classroom. Semistructured interviews and classroom observations were used over an 8-month period…

These essays address education for citizenship at a specific, concrete level. The collection offers examples of efforts to create among students a new set of what Alexis de Tocqueville called "mores" or culturally defining "habits of the heart" that enhance citizenship, foster a sense of connectedness to a community, and…

This annotated reference list is organized for a quick review of citizen participation information sources. Resources and readings are intended to be a starting point for researchers, practitioners, and others who are looking for information about citizen participation. The document includes the following sections: (1) "General Links to Citizen…

This annotated bibliography identifies materials that focus on using service-learning as a tool for violence prevention. The references are divided into two broad categories: (1) "Discussions and Reports"; and (2) "Guides and Curricula." The bibliography contains more than 20 selections, including ERIC references, from the 1990s. It concludes with…

A brief literature review of dissertations from 1990 onward reveals that more than 110 studies have been completed on service and related topics. The intent of this literature review was to identify those academic studies. The collection of titles, authors, and abstract summaries presented focuses on the number and diversity of studies available.…

The connection between service and character is a natural fit in today's schools. An important fact of school reform in recent years has been the push to connect academics to the "real world." But while there is widespread agreement that educating students to become good citizens is crucial, there are differences on how to make that goal…

Student volunteerism can include direct service, research and community education, and advocacy service. Alert observation and informed questioning are at the heart of learning from nonclassroom experience. (Author/MLF)

Maryland is the first state to require every student to perform service as a condition of receiving a high school diploma. In Baltimore, once electives became mandatory, a new coordinator for service learning was appointed, a service-learning program--the Baltimore Alliance for Student Service--was established, and a revised five-year…

Explores "service" as a continuum from charity to social change, and describes implications for service-learning in higher education. Based on a review of alternative theories, a student survey (n=83), and interviews with five practitioners, argues that there exist related but distinct community service models (charity, project, social change),…

Presents information on educational programs related to civic literacy and community services, providing brief descriptions of programs and related research efforts. Reviews programs related to civic responsibility, civic learning, and general education, and discusses community-based programming and service learning. (11 citations) (MAB)

Describes benefits of service learning for middle school students. Describes the Community Problem Solving (CPS) Program, a competitive program in which students use the creative problem- solving process to identify community problems and develop and implement solutions. Differentiates community problem solving from other service learning…

Examined the linkage between experiential educational programs that emphasize civic engagement and the activities of local governmental and nonprofit organizations. While leaders of governments and organizations have only irregular contacts with higher education programs that might encourage civic engagement, and leaders perceive a diverse range…

Using the example of an online service learning course, makes a case for the inclusion of service learning in higher education and the ability to do so seamlessly by using new communication technologies. (EV)

Describes the pitfalls that schools may encounter in requiring community service for high school graduation. In planning service-learning programs, schools should ask "In service of what?" Schools should first define their ideological, political, and social goals; provide teacher training, and incorporate the program into the curriculum. (LMI)

This article, written by four undergraduates with extensive experience in community-based research (CBR), summarizes each author's project and offers their views on conditions necessary for CBR success and benefits of CBR for students. (Author)