Service-Learning Australia

TT is an excellent starting point from which to develop service-learning, because it immediately includes two of the standards for good-quality service-learning:

Student direction.
This can be difficult to achieve, but is most important.  Billig (ECS Issue Paper) has observed that the greater the degree of responsibility given to youth for “planning, decision making, problem solving and assessing their learning”, the better the outcome. On the other hand, “when service is imposed from above without youth input and without adequate structure and support, young people may view their service experiences with indifference, suspicion or even hostility.”

Meaningful service.
Students are actively engaged in personally relevant service activities; naturally, your students will need to investigate whether the service they propose will be appropriate and meaningful for the service recipients.