Service Learning in College Political Science: Queries and Commentary

Hepburn, Mary A.; Niemi, Richard G.; Chapman, Chris

doi:10.1017/s1049096500061655

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Yet research suggests that students better retain political knowledge when the information becomes more relevant through firsthand experience (Delli Carpini and Keeter 2000, Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman 2000, and Hunter and Brisbin 2000. Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman (2000) raise the arguments of theorist John Dewey (1916Dewey ( , 1938) that ''schooling should not be isolated from actual life experiences, and formal education should foster continuity between internal development and exposure to external surroundings'' (Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman 2000, 617). They suggest that service learning increases civic City Council Meetings Are Cool 87 engagement by providing the ''interaction'' described by Dewey as essential (Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman 2000, 617).…”

Section: Service Learning In the Political Science Curriculummentioning

confidence: 99%

“City Council Meetings Are Cool”: Increasing Student Civic Engagement Through Service Learning

Assendelft

2008

Journal of Political Science Education

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This article examines the growing body of literature on service learning as a pedagogical tool within political science. It also reports the results of a service learning experiment used in a course on State and Local Politics. Students completed service learning projects that combined community service, attendance at local political meetings (i.e., city council or school board meetings), and interviews with elected officials. The students reflected on their experiences through written papers, oral presentations, and an evaluation of the service learning experience. The vignettes presented in this article highlight the potential benefits of incorporating service learning into political science courses, including enhanced civic engagement and understanding of the policymaking process. Assessment of these learning outcomes was based on the content and quality of the written and oral presentations, student self-evaluations, and a pretest=posttest. The model used in this course is easy to adapt to any political science course, offering a useful tool to promote active learning outside the classroom experience.

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Section: Service Learning In the Political Science Curriculummentioning

confidence: 99%

“City Council Meetings Are Cool”: Increasing Student Civic Engagement Through Service Learning

Assendelft

2008

Journal of Political Science Education

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“…Aside from contemporary social studies education research, classic studies in the field (e.g., Oliver & Shaver, 1966;Shaver & Larkins, 1973;Newmann, 1975;Engle & Ochoa, 1988) may help to prepare faculty and students to engage in ethical or value discussions, issue analysis, perspective taking, and simulations, or to create curricula for this purpose. The authors' allusions to Lee Ehman's (1980) research on political socialization and more recent work by Mary Hepburn et al (2000) are exceptions. But overall, these shortcomings seem to offer the opportunity for discussion or redress through further study by social studies educators and/or CUFA members.…”

Section: Book Reviewmentioning

confidence: 93%

The Carnegie Foundation'sEducating Citizens:A Call for Action

Dixon

2005

Theory & Research in Social Education

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“…Students, who are exposed to involvement in their community through civic engagement and service-learning, establish strong political identities and maintain long-lasting habits of political participation (Youniss and Yates 1997). Broader benefits that enhance the quality of one's university education include improvements in critical thinking skills (Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman 2000) as well as overall improved academic performance (Astin and Sax 1998;Eyler, Giles, and Braxton 1997).…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This has often been accomplished due to the individual efforts of political science faculty to offer courses that provide students opportunities in service-learning and civic and political engagement. Topics include simulations (Malone and Julian 2005;McQuaid 1992;Smith and Boyer 1996), deliberative discussion (Gastil and Dillard 1999;Strachan 2006), internships, service-learning (Dicklitch 2003;Hepburn, Niemi, and Chapman 2000;Walker 2000), and voting and campaigning projects (Blumberg, Sweitzer, and Helldobler 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%