As I noted in a post yesterday, we in the education field have a tendency to give different names to similar things. I used service learning as an example. I frame what we do at Designers for Learning as “service learning”, but have been told that others now use “community-engaged learning”.
I did some light Googling to see where things fall within various universities. While some are sticking with the traditional service learning, it appears many programs are going through an identity crisis noting community-engaged learning, public service, community-university partnerships, etc. Several still have service learning within their URL, but no longer use service learning in their program name.
Here are some examples:
- The University of Minnesota | Center for Community-Engaged Learning: While there is NO mention of service learning in their About US description, the program’s URL is http://www.servicelearning.umn.edu/. About Us, “The Center for Community-Engaged Learning works with partners to provide opportunities for students to engage in off-campus experiential learning through community work and place-based educational programs. Whether academically-based or co-curricular, these experiences complement classroom learning, foster personal, professional and civic development, and allow students to work with others to enhance the well-being of our communities.”
- Michigan State | Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement: While service learning is in their department title and URL (https://servicelearning.msu.edu), they have a page describing why they now use community engaged learning (CEL) versus service learning. Why? They note, “With service-learning, faculty, students, and community partners tend to limit student engagement to direct service activities (e.g. tutoring youth, serving meals to the homeless, cleaning up a community garden).”
- The University of Georgia | Office of Service Learning: From their website, “The UGA Office of Service-Learning supports academic service-learning and community engagement initiatives designed to enhance students’ civic and academic learning, promote engaged research that is responsive to community needs, and contribute to the public good through mutually beneficial community-university partnerships.”
- The University of Wisconsin-Madison | The Morgridge Center for Public Service: Their website notes, “Bridging Campus and Community Through Service and Learning”.
- Indiana University | Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning: Service learning is one of many programs listed.
- University of Virginia: Learning on Action | Public Service: No specific mention of service learning.
- Old Dominion University | The Center for Service & Civic Engagement: is a “is your one-stop shop for all things related to service, service-learning, and civic engagement!”