Issues Involved in Faculty Implementation of Community Service-Learning in Teacher Education

This study examined how teacher education faculty from 21 institutions attempted to implement the curricular innovation of community service-learning. Faculty's biggest successes were implementation of program/course changes, increased collaborations on campus or in the community, and perceived positive impact on pre-service teachers. Barriers to implementation included time, resistance, or inertia on the part of colleagues, limited finances, and other reform efforts and commitments that demanded immediate attention. The study highlights several key factors that contributed to faculty success: faculty ownership and involvement in decision making, site-specific professional development opportunities, resources to support faculty's efforts, and write plans for implementation. (NSEE Quarterly)