The Four Types of Service-Learning
Direct Service:
Students' service directly affects and involves the recipients ( e.g., tutoring, mentoring,
animal care, visiting the elderly)
Indirect Service: Activities
do not directly impact individuals, but benefit the community as a whole (e.g.,
restoring wetlands, painting park benches, stocking food pantries, drives,
collections, fundraisers, clean-ups, construction)
Advocacy:
The intent is to create awareness of or promote action on an issue of public
interest, lobbying, speaking,
(e.g., writing to government leaders, holding a town meeting, performing a play)
Research: Students find, gather and
report information in the public interest (e.g., developing surveys, conduct
formal studies, evaluations experiments or interviews)
Source: Maryland Student Service Alliance Handout
