Guiding Principles for Conducting Service-Learning Projects

Service learning is a desired, expected or integral part of teaching and yet guiding principles for conducting service learning projects in a generalized approach seem limited.  For this paper, we have expanded and modified Sigmon’s (1979) four R’s of service-learning (respect, reciprocity, relevance, and reflection) to include the following six categories, each encompassing different core principles of the “how” of doing service-learning effectively, more similar to Malone’s (2010) five R’s (relationships, rigor, reciprocity, reflection, and real life).  These six R’s include roles, relevance, reciprocity, reflection, risk management, and reporting.  While the first four of our R’s largely overlap with both Sigmon’s and Malone’s configurations, here we put forth the importance of two new and unique R’s that must be carefully considered when utilizing service-learning as an effective course pedagogy, namely risk management and reporting.