Preparing graduates to take on their responsibilities as citizens in their communities is often seen as one of the central goals of education. Yet even within the context of education, community service has been perceived as a reaction to social problems and societal needs, with less attention to the application of knowledge in the process of offering community service. In recent decades, the concept of service-learning has emerged as a way of offering students opportunities to serve and to learn simultaneously. This entry first defines service-learning and differentiates it from other forms of service. It then details the components of service-learning and research findings on outcomes for students who participate.

Service-learning is understood as responding to human and community needs while promoting educational growth. Service is ...