Service learning as a response to community/school engagement: towards a pedagogy of engagement
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Date
2013-06
Authors
Alexander, Gregg
Khabanyane, Mokhethi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
The promulgation of the White Paper on Higher Education (1997) necessitated Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa to avail their expertise in their human resources and physical
infrastructure for service learning and community engagement initiatives, in the interest of demonstrating
social responsibility, collaborative partnerships with, and a commitment to the development of South
African communities. Service learning as a thoughtful organised, reflective and engaged service pedagogy
is focused on the developmental priorities of communities through the application of knowledge, skills and
interaction among communities, academics, students and service providers to the benefit of all participants
(Council on Higher Education, 2006). In response to the latter mentioned, this interdisciplinary study,
therefore, reports on the results of a service learning component to teach postgraduate students, attached
to the Department of Comparative Education and Education Management, to perform specific skills
(management tasks) via the implementation of structured interventions at their selective schools. Class
presentations, reflective journals on students’ observations, experiences and actions revealed significant
parallels between the implemented service learning curricular (management tasks) and the respective
‘engaged’ school communities.
Description
Keywords
Service learning, Postgraduate students, Community engagement, Class presentations, Reflective journals, Management tasks
Citation
Alexander, G., & Khabanyane, M. (2013). Service learning as a response to community/school engagement: towards a pedagogy of engagement. Perspectives in Education, 31(2), 102-113.