School-Based Service-Learning as Action Research

This chapter explores the unique connection between service-learning and action research and reflection in the context of a school-university partnership. The partnership plan, entitled "Project Achieve," advanced a model of urban professional development with the ultimate goal of increasing teaching effectiveness and student achievement. Two professors at La Salle University-- a Catholic institution in Philadelphia with an enrollment of nearly eight thousand undergraduate and graduate students-- developed Project Achieve in collaboration with the principal of an urban middle school. The plan targeted teaching development and skill; its premise was that increased teacher expertise in implementing the core curriculum would concomitantly increase student achievement as measured by the results of district-wide benchmark tests and statewide standardized tests. One aspect of this professional development plan was an action research component in which seven teachers volunteered to participate. These projects were based on the teacher' particular interest and were supported by mentors on the Project Achieve staff. (authors)