I wanted to point out a distinction that should be made between Dan Causier's article on community service requirements at UW-Eau Claire and The Daily Cardinal staff opinion on \Inconsistent service learning"" (Nov. 9).
I am unsure of UW-Eau Claire's policy on requiring community service hours to graduate. The staff opinion referred to the same requirement as ""service learning."" Service-learning and community service are two very different things.
First, you receive class credit for academic service learning. You do not receive class credit for community service.
Next, academic service learning is a form of experiential learning that requires reflection on the work one does with a community organization in the form of assignments such as journals, class projects, presentations and papers. Community service does not require this reflection component.
Finally, academic service learning connects the readings and lectures in a class together with the service one provides to a community organization. In community service, this is not always the case.
Service learning is an increasingly popular form of active learning at UW-Madison. It is important that students, faculty, staff and community organizations are aware of the difference between service learning and community service to understand the former's benefits in the community and the classroom.
