Using Service Learning in Public Administration Programs: Best Practices and Challenges. -- Handbook of Teaching and Learning in Public Administration and Management

Service-learning engagements - internships, client-based projects, practica - are valuable pedagogical tools that complement traditional course activities and facilitate desired course and student learning outcomes by: demonstrating the application and usefulness of sometimes abstract theories and concepts, providing students the occasion to observe and work with professionals in their chosen field, and affording students opportunities to employ tools learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios. Additionally, incorporating service learning into the curriculum of public administration programs is a practical way to cultivate public service values, develop professional competencies, and build interpersonal networks, particularly among pre-service students. In this chapter, we demonstrate the value of service-learning as a pedagogical approach, describe best practices for incorporating service-learning into public administration courses, and discuss challenges this learning strategy can pose for faculty, students, and community partners.

Using Service Learning in Public Administration Programs: Best Practices and Challenges. -- Handbook of Teaching and Learning in Public Administration and Management Chapter