Science and Service Learning (Research in Science Education)

The goal of Volume VII of Research in Science Education is to examine the relationship between science inquiry and servicelearning. Its primary intent is to bridge the gaps between research and practice. The volume is meant to be useful to science and servicelearning researchers and practitioners such as teachers and administrators because it provides information about strategies to integrate servicelearning into the science curriculum and instruction. The main themes relate to such topics as: - Student science academic engagement and academic achievement. - Teacher instructional strategies in science and servicelearning. - Science curricula adaptation or development. - Civic responsibility of students and community partners. - Resiliency of students atrisk. - Effect of standards based servicelearning and science on student outcomes such as academic engagement, civic engagement, and resiliency to adversity. Specific case studies and strategies focus on how to: - Make learning more engaging. Encourage collaboration among students, teachers, and community partners. - Improve academic competence. - Create socialcivic responsibility. - Stimulate resiliency in students atrisk. - Improve student interest in STEM subjects and majors. - Develop STEM career interests. - Improve the quality of science and servicelearning instruction through addressing standards. Students can learn in teachercentered classrooms, however, a learnercentered class that focuses on science inquiry, and servicelearning is more authentic and engaging to learners. This type of learning may not be the only way to teach, however, many educators believe that it is the best way for students to learn (Jordan, 2005).