Service-Learning Australia

The Impacts of Service-Learning on Participating Students, March 2005.
Research brief by Shelley H. Billig, Ph.D., RMC Research Corporation, Denver. Online.

This paper summarises research into the impact of Service-Learning on Participating Students:  Academic Impacts, Civics/Citizenship Impacts, Social/Personal Impacts.

Impacts of Service-Learning on Participating Students March 2005.doc (Click to Download)

A Report by Civic Enterprises in association with Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the National Conference on Citizenship.  April 2008.

This paper looks at the fact that the majority of students failing to graduate do not leave school because of academic failure: 70 percent of the students reported that they did not see the real-world applications of their schoolwork and nearly half felt bored by their classes.  More than 80 percent of students believed that if schools provided opportunities for real-world learning – such as service-learning, work study, and internships – these opportunities would improve students’ chances of graduating from high school.  This report presents original and secondary research that shows the ability of service-learning to address some of the principle causes of students leaving school early.  It found that service-learning improves almost every aspect of education that has an effect on graduation rates.

Engaged for Success.pdf

Lessons from Research on Teaching and Learning: Service-Learning as Effective Instruction. (PDF, 151 KB)
Shelley H. Billig, Ph.D.  RMC Research Corporation.  Excerpted from “Growing to Greatness 2006.”  National Youth Leadership Council.

In this article, high-quality teaching practice is defined, and suggestions for improving the practice of service-learning as a teaching and learning strategy are given. The information is based on decades of research on teaching and learning and on recent research on service-learning.

Service-Learning as Effective Instruction.pdf

Can Service-Learning Help Reduce the Achievement Gap?  New Research Points Toward the Potential of Service-Learning for Low-Income Students. (PDF, 214 KB)
By Peter C. Scales, Ph.D., and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Search Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Excerpted from “Growing to Greatness 2005.” National Youth Leadership Council.

This article looks at research that offers correlational evidence that service-learning may be particularly beneficial educationally for low income students and schools, making it an important, though overlooked, strategy for closing the achievement gap in schools.

Can Service-Learning Help Reduce the Achievment Gap.pdf

Unpacking What Works in Service-Learning
Promising Research-Based Practices to Improve Student Outcomes (PDF 182 KB)
Authors: Shelley H. Billig
Publication Year: 2007

Summary of research supporting the eight Principles of Effective Practice for K-12 Service-Learning. Each principle is defined and supported with the most current research.  Included in this article are examples of how each principle can be incorporated into classroom practice.

Unpacking What Works in Service-Learning.pdf

Service-Learning and the Transition to Adulthood. (PDF, 614 KB)
The National Survey on Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood – conducted on behalf of the National Youth Leadership Council by Harris Interactive.  2006.

Recent research has revealed that service-learning has a strong impact on the youth-adult transition.  Adults who engage in service-learning in their teenaged years are more likely than their peers to be politically and socially connected to their communities, serve as role models for young adults and attain higher level of education.

Service-Learning and Transitioning to Adulthood.pdf