Service learning: an appropriate approach to environmental education?

This thesis explores the appropriateness of the service learning approach to environmental education. Service learning is a form of experiential education where students are encouraged to apply classroom concepts in addressing community needs. My thesis begins with a brief definition, history, and modern day account of environmental education. A discussion of service learning as a pedagogy and philosophy follows. I then describe a freshman seminar on water quality which employed the service learning pedagogy. This seminar served as a case study from which to evaluate this pedagogy. Qualitative and quantitative data is presented. Finally, I identify ways in which service learning can be implemented in existing courses and offer suggestions for future research.