This volume represents a breakthrough discussion of the research issues surrounding innovative pedagogies. Using service-learning as its focus, it explores ways in which researchers and evaluators can study a teaching and learning approach that has multiple goals, including both academic and affective development. The chapter authors show how to study a topic that is multilayered, complex, and involves the ways in which individuals make meaning of their experiences.
Seven challenges that researchers need to grapple with in studying service-learning are identified and addressed: defining service-learning; basing service-learning research on strong theoretical foundations; refining service-learning research design and methodology; interpreting service-learning results; disseminating service-learning research findings; improving service-learning practice; and building funding to support service-learning research. In addition, practical recommendations are provided for professionals involved in doing research on service-learning and more broadly on any form of experiential education, community service and development, or educational reform.
"Studying Service-Learning: Innovations in Education Research Methodology" is an essential resource for researchers who are interested in studying innovative teaching and learning strategies and for students who are learning about a range of research methodologies.

This volume represents a breakthrough discussion of the research issues surrounding innovative pedagogies. Using service-learning as its focus, it explores ways in which researchers and evaluators can study a teaching and learning approach that has multiple goals, including both academic and affective development. The chapter authors show how to study a topic that is multilayered, complex, and involves the ways in which individuals make meaning of their experiences.
Seven challenges that researchers need to grapple with in studying service-learning are identified and addressed: defining service-learning; basing service-learning research on strong theoretical foundations; refining service-learning research design and methodology; interpreting service-learning results; disseminating service-learning research findings; improving service-learning practice; and building funding to support service-learning research. In addition, practical recommendations are provided for professionals involved in doing research on service-learning and more broadly on any form of experiential education, community service and development, or educational reform.
"Studying Service-Learning: Innovations in Education Research Methodology" is an essential resource for researchers who are interested in studying innovative teaching and learning strategies and for students who are learning about a range of research methodologies.

This volume is the seventh in the Advances in Service-Learning Research series, and presents a collection of papers selected from those presented at the Sixth International Service-learning Research, hosted by Portland State University in Portland, Oregon in October 2006. The theme of the conference, which is also the title of this volume, was ""From Passion to Objectivity: International and Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives on Service- Learning Research."" This theme was selected to showcase several important topics in contemporary servicelearning and community engagement research. Of key importance is the way in which the chapters selected for this volume reflect the evolution and maturation of research in the field of service-learning-moving from descriptive narratives of the passion for addressing social problems and inequities that was evident in much of the early research (and is still reflected today) to increasingly sophisticated research that draws on multiple methodologies, presents solid evidence, and offers the basis for replication and further exploration through future research.

A volume in Advances in Service-Learning Research Series Editor Shelley H. Billig, RMC Research Corporation, Denver This eighth volume in the Advances in Service-Learning Research series includes eight essays selected from manuscripts submitted by participants in the seventh annual conference of the International Association of Research in Service-Learning and Community Engagement, held in Tampa, Florida, in October, 2007. The volume builds upon the theme of that conference: ""Sustainability and Scholarship: Research and the K-20 Continuum,"" bringing together the work of scholars from K-12 and higher education to argue for the connection between rigorous and purposeful research and sustainable service-learning and civic engagement. Articles range from models for program-level assessment to examples of significant field-based research projects to approaches to advance discipline-based sustainable impacts to connections between civic education and sustainable communities.Voices of community partners, students, faculty members, administrators, and discipline- based organizations are part of the conversation, and each of the essays raises important challenges for future research that can help to shape, document, and sustain the important impacts of work in this field.

A volume in Advances in Service-Learning Research Series Editor Shelley H. Billig, RMC Research Corporation, Denver This eighth volume in the Advances in Service-Learning Research series includes eight essays selected from manuscripts submitted by participants in the seventh annual conference of the International Association of Research in Service-Learning and Community Engagement, held in Tampa, Florida, in October, 2007. The volume builds upon the theme of that conference: ""Sustainability and Scholarship: Research and the K-20 Continuum,"" bringing together the work of scholars from K-12 and higher education to argue for the connection between rigorous and purposeful research and sustainable service-learning and civic engagement. Articles range from models for program-level assessment to examples of significant field-based research projects to approaches to advance discipline-based sustainable impacts to connections between civic education and sustainable communities.Voices of community partners, students, faculty members, administrators, and discipline- based organizations are part of the conversation, and each of the essays raises important challenges for future research that can help to shape, document, and sustain the important impacts of work in this field.

The chapters in this book all demonstrate just how far service-learning research has come. Researchers, practitioners, and students alike have benefited from its dissemination and use the research to improve practice. The research does not simply inform educators how to create a better pedagogy. Rather, it informs a service-learning practice that can transform both individuals and institutions.

This volume is the seventh in the Advances in Service-Learning Research series, and presents a collection of papers selected from those presented at the Sixth International Service-learning Research, hosted by Portland State University in Portland, Oregon in October 2006. The theme of the conference, which is also the title of this volume, was ""From Passion to Objectivity: International and Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives on Service- Learning Research."" This theme was selected to showcase several important topics in contemporary servicelearning and community engagement research. Of key importance is the way in which the chapters selected for this volume reflect the evolution and maturation of research in the field of service-learning-moving from descriptive narratives of the passion for addressing social problems and inequities that was evident in much of the early research (and is still reflected today) to increasingly sophisticated research that draws on multiple methodologies, presents solid evidence, and offers the basis for replication and further exploration through future research.

The chapters in this book all demonstrate just how far service-learning research has come. Researchers, practitioners, and students alike have benefited from its dissemination and use the research to improve practice. The research does not simply inform educators how to create a better pedagogy. Rather, it informs a service-learning practice that can transform both individuals and institutions.

Service-learning, a teaching and learning approach that uses the provision of community service as a vehicle for learning, continues to be of interest to those working in K-12 and higher education. Billig, director of a national study of the impact of service-learning, and Welch (service learning, University of Utah) present selected papers from a

Service-learning is an approach to teaching and learning that can help students acquire academic skills and knowledge, develop strong interpersonal skills and self-knowledge, become more civic minded, and gain understanding of their connected to their communities and society. This learning and development occurs by having students provide meaningful service through which they serve as an important resource to the community and systematically reflect on the process with their teachers, mentors, and/or advisors. This book series will gather current research on servicelearning in K-12 education, teacher education, and higher education. Along with chapters highlighting the findings of service-learning research studies, the book will include thought pieces that identify theoretical groundings of servicelearning and present methodological approaches for studying service-learning (including teacher action research).

Service-learning is an approach to teaching and learning that can help students acquire academic skills and knowledge, develop strong interpersonal skills and self-knowledge, become more civic minded, and gain understanding of their connected to their communities and society. This learning and development occurs by having students provide meaningful service through which they serve as an important resource to the community and systematically reflect on the process with their teachers, mentors, and/or advisors. This book series will gather current research on servicelearning in K-12 education, teacher education, and higher education. Along with chapters highlighting the findings of service-learning research studies, the book will include thought pieces that identify theoretical groundings of servicelearning and present methodological approaches for studying service-learning (including teacher action research).

A multidisciplinary investigation of service-learning. The papers are divided into sections on: dimensions of service-learning research; theoretical perspectives on service-learning; service-learning and the disciplines; the impacts on service-learning participants; and future directions.

A multidisciplinary investigation of service-learning. The papers are divided into sections on: dimensions of service-learning research; theoretical perspectives on service-learning; service-learning and the disciplines; the impacts on service-learning participants; and future directions.

This work looks at service learning. It cover such topics as: challenges for service-learning research; enhancing theory-based research on service learning; dilemmas of service learning teachers; the diffusion of academic service learning in teacher education; and more.

This work looks at service learning. It cover such topics as: challenges for service-learning research; enhancing theory-based research on service learning; dilemmas of service learning teachers; the diffusion of academic service learning in teacher education; and more.