Chapter 5: Bridging the Divide: “Real-World” Education Through Service-Learning and Experiential Education

Service-learning, a form of experiential education, infuses experience into the learning environment and provides the needed bridge to connect classroom theory with real-world business applications. At its core, servicelearning is about creating opportunities for students to apply the theory they learn in the classroom to real-world problems and real-world needs (O’Neill, 1990). Service-learning affords students structured opportunities that are intentionally designed to pair their classroom learning with practical business applications that address human and community needs (Jacoby, 1996). Through service-learning, students also engage in a cycle of service and reflection. Tolan (2007) linked participation in service-learning projects with a predisposition to engage in future organizational citizenship behaviors, which can be key drivers of productivity.