This bibliography highlights resources and readings on service-learning and school-to-work, and was developed to give practitioners and researchers some reference in beginning to look at topics and current issues in service-learning.
Source: Madeleine S. Hengel and Robert Shumer, n.d.
Service-learning (SL) and school-to-work (STW) both extend learning beyond the classroom into real world contexts where broader problem-solving and decision-making skills are addressed. While service-learning provides opportunities for students to participate in learning activities within their community which utilize their academic and vocational competencies, school-to-work helps students make tentative career choices and develop educational goals aimed at achieving vocational and personal satisfaction.
A comparison of SL and STW shows the following:
Similarities
- Both rely heavily on learning outside the classroom
- Expect connections between experiences and subject matter learning
- Better programs involve students in learning experience, site selection, and activities
- Requires good coordination between school and community
- Requires good communication between school and community
- Requires teachers who know how community experiences relate to subjects in school
- Presents logistical challenges to schools for transportation and liability
- Focuses more on depth and quality than breadth and quantity of learning
- Provide environments which require social and cognitive learning
- Produce outcomes which enhance personal, social, psychological, and academic growth
- Involve adults outside the family in relationships with youth
- Require problem solving skills which are applied in contexts beyond the classroom
- Provide career development opportunities
- Require development of practical skills
- Both promote citizenship skills, social involvement, and productive employment
- Create great overlap in service occupations
Differences
- Emphasize different practical skills
- STW tends to involve more private sector; SL involves more public, nonprofits
- Contest of skill development: STW can involve more personal learning, SL involves personal learning with public benefit
Bhaerman, B. (1995). Service learning and school to work linkages: AACE bonus brief. Hermosa Beach, CA: American Association for Career Education.
Boyte, H. C., & Skelton, N. (1997, February). The legacy of public work: Educating for citizenship. UnCover, 12-17. Retrieved from http://www.paunite.org/Resources/Legacy%20of%20public%20work%20-%20Educating%20for%20citizenship.pdf
Briscoe, J., & Pitofsky, J. (1996, September). Service learning and school to work: A partnership strategy for education renewal. Results from the Wingspread Summit, Racine, WI.
Buchen, I. H., & Fertman, C. I. (1994). Creating a culture of service: Effective service learning. Warminster, PA: Marco Products, Inc.
Bucy, H. H. (1990). School community business partnerships: Building foundations for dropout prevention. Lanham, MD: Education Resources Information Center.
Carnegie Corporation of New York. (1989). Turning points: Preparing American youth for the 21st century. Report of the Task Force on Education of Young Adolescents. Waldorf, MD: Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development.
Christenson, L., & Mercer, J. (Eds.). (1993). Making the first chance a real chance: Bridging education and work for all Minnesota youth and adults: Findings and recommendations. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota State Council on Vocational Technical Education.
Council of Chief State School Officers. (1995). Concern about connecting service learning and school to work. Washington, DC: Author.
Cuomo, M. R. (1991, July). New York state mentoring program. Address given at the Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Program, Cooperstown, NY.
Furco, A. (1996, Fall). Service learning and school to work: Making the connection. Journal of Cooperative Education, 32(1), 7-14.
Hamilton, M. A., & Hamilton, S. F. (1997, May). When is work a learning experience? Phi Delta Kappan, 682-689. Retrieved from http://www.brs.state.ct.us/SchoolToWork/GuidepostDocs/WhenIsWorkALearningExperience.pdf
Ingham Intermediate School District. (1995). Guide to work based learning programs: Part II - Career experience (1st ed.). Mason, MI: Author.
Israel, C. A. (1994, Spring). New frontiers: Nontraditional customized training. New Directions for Community Colleges, 22(1), 93-100.
Jones, A. (1995, January). Workforce development institute: 1995 summary report. Washington, DC: American Association of Community Colleges.
Leighninger, M., & Niedergang, M. (1995). Education: How can schools and communities work together to meet the challenge? A guide for involving community members in public dialogue and problem solving. Pomfret, CT: Study Circles Resource Center.
National Association of Partners in Education. (1996, September). Service-learning and school-to-work: A partnership strategy for education renewal. Results from the Wingspread Summit. Alexandria, VA: Author.
National School-to-Work Office. (1996). School to work and service learning resource bulletin. Washington, DC: National School-to-Work Learning and Information Center.
National School-to-Work Office. (1996, May). School to work and service learning resource bulletin. Washington, DC: National School-to-Work Learning and Information Center.
Parsons, C. (1991, June). SerVermont: The little initiative that could. Phi Delta Kappan, 72(10), 68-70.
Rusch, J. C. (1990). Social interactions of secondary aged students with severe handicaps: Implications for facilitating the transition from school to work. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 15(2), 69-78.
Shapiro, S. J. (1990). Community service learning: A vital contribution to educational reform (Master's thesis). College of Education, Florida International University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Community Education. (1995). South Carolina school to work implementation guide for work based learning. Columbia, SC: Author.
Thompson, S. (1995, May). Community as classroom. Educational Leadership, 52(8), 17-20.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). School to work opportunities. Washington, DC: National School-to-Work Opportunities Office.
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor (n.d.). School to work opportunities: An owner's guide. Washington, DC: National School-to-Work Opportunities Office.
Links
National Center for Research in Vocational Education (NCRVE)
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL)

An easy-to-search database of hundreds of high-quality service-learning lesson plans, syllabi, and project ideas, submitted by educators and service-learning practitioners
The world's largest service-learning library, with full-text and print resources











