An Assessment of the Practices And Strategies that Contribute to the Success of High School Service- Learning Programs

Service-learning is widely recognized as a form of experiential learning that positively impacts students. Studies have supported academic and inter-personal growth as a result of student involvement in an organized service-learning program. While some educators report that student participation is all that is required, this research demonstrates that the teaching practices implemented and strategies employed are the foundational elements necessary for a successful service-learning program. A successful service-learning project should be intentionally selected and developed with built-in opportunities for preparation activities prior to the service-learning event, a thoroughly planned servicelearning opportunity, and planned debrief to solidify student comprehension and application of the learning. This research indicates that the success of the project hinges on this level of intentionality. This study identifies practices and strategies that contribute to the success of high-school service-learning programs, thus providing educators and service-learning practitioners with practical direction for the design and implementation of service-learning programs on the high school level.