Exploring the Learning in Service-Learning: A Case of a Community-Based Research Project in Web-Based Systems Development

Service-learning integrates course-based academic learning with community service. This for of experiential learning is becoming more prevalent in higher education as academic institutions strive to enhance student learning while providing meaningful service to the community . This study investigates the impacts of service-learning in a junior-level IS web development course on student learning outcomes. The study also explores the use of community-based research in web-based systems development. The study's context is a project to develop a web-based system for an elementary school classroom. The authors' findings propose an integrated, multidimensional concept of student learning that links the academic with personal and interpersonal learning outcomes. The academic dimension of student learning includes domain-specific and general academic knowledge and skills. The interpersonal dimension of student learning encompasses communication, collaboration and leadership skills, and the personal dimension consists of self-knowledge and personal efficacy. The service-learning strategy of community-based research promotes student learning and transforms the student into an engaged and active learner. Furthermore, the community-based research is an effective approach to supplement the software development methods of prototyping and joint application development in a web-based systems development project. The study's findings provide a framework for structuring effective service-learning experiences in the systems development domain of an Informations Systems curriculum. (authors)