Service learning has "terrific" potential to motivate disengaged students, John Glenn told his audience at the Closing General Session. The astronaut and former senator served as chair of the National Commission on Service-Learning, which released its report Learning In Deed: The Power of Service-Learning for American Schools in January. The report recommends that all students in U.S. schools participate in high-quality service learning every year as an integral part of their education.
John Glenn
"Those of you who have service learning in your schools have seen what an advantage it gives the kids," Glenn said. "You know that it can be a great motivator, creating interest and instilling curiosity so students are excited about learning."
Too many students see little relationship between the curriculum and their own lives, Glenn said. "Then, with service learning, a light turns on—maybe not with every kid, but with a lot of them. Suddenly there is a connection between what the teacher has been saying and the real world out there, and they get curious about it. Learning becomes exciting, and their self-esteem goes up."
Multiple studies have shown the positive impact of service learning on students, including improved test scores, higher grade-point averages, and increased attendance, Glenn said. It helps students develop a sense of civic and social responsibility by giving them the opportunity to become active, positive contributors to society. Students also acquire an ethic of caring.
Teachers, too, benefit from their involvement in service learning, Glenn said. They develop more positive relationships with their students, and their own motivation increases. They also have deeper conversations about teaching and learning with their students and colleagues.
Through its motivational power, service learning can boost student achievement, Glenn said. "The education bill that President Bush signed into law in January sets tough new requirements for lifting student achievement," he noted. "I believe that service learning has a vital role to play in helping our communities, our states, and our countries meet this kind of challenge."
The academic component of service learning should not be forgotten, Glenn emphasized. "Service learning is not just community service, it's not just volunteerism—it's something far beyond that. Service learning puts academics into action because it puts learning into an authentic context. It engages young people in addressing real problems in their communities, not just fictitious problems in a textbook. They respond to that."