Reflection On Service Learning

I have learned so much about service-learning principles and the connection between theory and practice throughout this course, as this course was my first time experiencing a service-learning placement. I did not anticipate making so many meaningful connections within my time in this course. Experience in a school setting and the use of module material and reflective practice enhanced my understanding of service-learning principles and the connection between theory and practice. This course allowed me to put into perspective how practice can enhance the theories that I learn in the classroom. Throughout my time in the Concurrent Education program at Brock University I have learned a plethora of theories varying from developmental theorist
One of these lessons is the importance of understanding your role in the community and that your purpose in your setting is to help others and not just benefit yourself. Entering this course, I only thought of how it would help advance my understanding of the knowledge that I have learned in the classroom by applying it in real life. This was true, however, as discussed in the very first module, the primary role of service learning is providing service to the community and your own benefits of the experience come second to this. I found I noticed this when I completed my journals, as I analyzed the ways in which I was able to help the students and positively impact their education. This experience does more than just benefit me as a learner but also, transforms society in a positive way through collaborative work (Cress, 2005). Another lesson that I learned from this experience was the importance of approaching any experience through multiple perspectives. Throughout the modules we learned about different lenses, different theories and different techniques for reflective analysis. With all this knowledge, I have learned how to make more meaningful connections in my service-learning practice. Doing so also helped me to build deeper connections between the theories that I read about in class to real life experiences. Furthermore I have learned many lessons about myself in this
Even so, through this experience, I have learned that actual practice enhances my comprehension of theory just as much as practice enhances my transferable skills. Each of the modules provided me with theories and other forms of knowledge, but it was the actual experience as well as the reflection through journaling, that lead to a more profound connection between theory and practice. More than anything, I have gained a strong appreciation for service learning and what it can do to benefit the community as well as myself as a learner. I have also gained a deeper appreciation for what I am learning. I feel this experience will encourage me to look back on my experience while in my other classes at Brock. I now have a basic understanding of how students function in an elementary school classroom and I think I will be able to link future theories I learn to this