Improving Service-learning Practice: Research on Models to Enhance Impacts (Advances in Service-learning.) (Advances in Service-learning Research)

This fifth book in the Advances in Service-Learning Research series continues to expand the discussion of service-learning research and practice. The chapters were selected through a refereed, blind-review process from papers presented at the 4th Annual International K-H Service-Learning Research Conference held October 2004 in Greenville, South Carolina. The chapters focus on topics that address a variety of issues in higher education and teacher education and are organized into four sections.

This volume in the series presents new paradigms that can lead practitioners to create more powerful experiences, and lead researchers to a better understanding of the relationships between service-learning, participants, context, and outcomes. If implemented, the models in this volume can do much to help us better understand the essence of service-learning and add to its value to education and the development of engaged citizens.

CONTENTS: Introduction, Jane Callahan. Section I: Teacher Education Models, Impacts, and Issues. The National Service-Learning in Teacher Education Partnership: A Research Retrospective, Susan Root. The Institutionalization of Service-Learning in Preservice Teacher Education, Jeffrey Anderson and Jane Callahan. Developing Advocates and Leaders through Service-Learning in Preservice and Inservice Special Education Programs, Jean Gonsier-Gerdin amd Joanna Royce-Davis. Section II: Implementation Models, Impacts, and Issues. College Students? Preferred Approaches to Community Service Charity and Social Change Paradigms, Barbara Moely and Devi Miron. The Job Characteristics Model and Placement Quality, Marcy Schnitzer. The Relationship between the Quality Indicators of Service-Learning and Student Outcomes: Testing Professional Wisdom, Shelley H. Billig, Susan Root, and Daniel Jesse. Section III: Methodological Models and Issues. Reciprocal Validity: Description and Outcomes of a Hybrid Approach of Triangulated Qualitative Analysis in the Research of Civic Engagement, Marshall Welch, Peter Miller, and Kirsten Davies. Developing Plans for a Randomized Control Trial to Evaluate a Conceptual Model of Service-Learning, Keith Aronson, Nicole S. Webster, Robert Reason, Patreese Ingram, James Nolan, Kimber Mitchell, and Diane Reed. Civic Engagement Audits: Using Principles of Research to Discover Multiple Levels of Connection and Engagement, Robert Shumer and Susan Shumer. In Their Own Voices: A Mixed Methods Approach to Studying Outcomes of Intercultural Service- Learning with College Students, Peggy Fitch. Section IV: Future Directions. The International K-H Service-Learning Research Association: A Call to Action, Shelley H. Billig.