Making "Mythical Creatures" Real: Developing an Awareness of Adolescent Needs Through Service-Learning

This chapter presents a triangulated analysis of a first-quarter service-learning immersion approach in a master's in teaching certification program. Using questionnaires, focus group data, and reflective essays, the authors analyze the ways in which the service-learning experiences helped preservice teachers make sense of abstract concepts and develop reflective practitioner skills. Results indicated that service-learning helped preservice teachers examine concepts related to adolescent development, teaching, theory-practice connections, self, and general schooling issues. (author)