Using Community Service Projects to Teach Leadership and Team-Building: Theoretical Foundations, Students' Reactions and Practical Considerations

• Main Author: TAN, Gilbert
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2005
• Subjects: Service Learning; Leadership; Teambuilding; Experiential Learning; Singapore Management University; Asian Studies; Higher Education; Leadership Studies; Strategic Management Policy
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/2845; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/lkcsb_research/article/3844/viewcontent/UsingCommunityServiceProject_3.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

This paper discusses the theoretical foundations of utilizing Community Service Project (CSP) or service-learning to teach Leadership and Team-Building. It examines the students’ reactions to this innovative method of instruction. This is done through conducting a content analysis of students’ learning journals, in which students reflect on their CSP learning experiences. Two themes emerged from the data: (a) variety of learning experiences, and (b) impact of CSP experience. The data suggested that students derived a variety of learning experiences from the CSP. In addition, there were attitudinal and learning impacts associated with the CSP experiences. The paper also outlines some practical guidelines for successful implementation of CSP or service-learning as a pedagogical method.