Service learning in computer science and engineering

Attention is increasing on the need to educate students in areas that extend beyond the traditional technical basis for their field: the Kellogg Commission's mandate for a "scholarship of engagement" [3]; the Engineering Deans Council report's emphasis on teamwork, communication, and the need for students to "understand the economic, social, environmental and international context of their professional activities" [2]; the CSAB Criteria 2000 requirements in written and oral communication and "coverage of social and ethical implications of computing" [1]; the growth of broad IT programs and schools.Service learning offers the opportunity to broaden the educational experience by engaging students in "real-world" projects. However, it also poses new questions: Should students earn academic credit for courses in which a significant portion of their time is spent on "soft" skills? Are students gaining valid technical experience on projects defined by an outside customer rather than by CS&E faculty? How can curriculum structures support projects that aren't constructed to fit within semester boundaries?The panel includes faculty and students from service-learning programs, the chief technical officer for a software company, and a community "customer."