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Practices in Service-Learning that Support Higher Levels of Civic Engagement after Graduation

Slosberg, Deborah A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308274358

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, College Student Personnel.
Civically-engaged alumni should be an important outcome of higher education. Service-learning is one method for helping students commit to a life of civic engagement after graduation. In order to create these civically-engaged alumni, practitioners need to understand best practices in service-learning. In this holistic multi-case case study, four participants were interviewed who had participated in three different types of service-learning programs at the University of Michigan. Existing literature addresses outcomes of service-learning including academic learning, career choice, and civic engagement outcomes. It also emphasizes the importance of reflection, community service, interactions with faculty and staff, community building, structures of academic service-learning programs, and interactions with people different from the student. From the interviews, six themes emerged that the participants thought were effective in leading to their civic engagement after graduation. These six themes are reflection and critical thinking, community service, community building, interactions with people from whom the student differs, leadership responsibilities, and a desire for continued involvement and reflection. These findings have implications for practice. Practitioners should utilize discussion, going beyond the shock factor, and conversations on congruence in reflection; they should create diverse communities and help those communities form relational bonds; they should create opportunities for students to interact with people from whom they differ; and they should incorporate student leaders in their programs and teach those students leadership skills. More research needs to be conducted on the intersections of the themes uncovered in this study. In addition, there needs to be more research on the impact of students who take on leadership roles in their service-learning experience and on the outcome of continued involvement and reflection for students both throughout their undergraduate experience as well as after graduation. However, this study provides a firm starting place for this future research.
Ellen Broido (Advisor)
Jane Rosser (Committee Member)
109 p.
Higher Education
service learning; civic engagement; reflection; higher education; leadership; community service;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Slosberg, D. A. (2011). Practices in Service-Learning that Support Higher Levels of Civic Engagement after Graduation [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308274358

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Slosberg, Deborah. Practices in Service-Learning that Support Higher Levels of Civic Engagement after Graduation. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308274358.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Slosberg, Deborah. "Practices in Service-Learning that Support Higher Levels of Civic Engagement after Graduation." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308274358

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1308274358
594
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.