Vapaaehtoistoiminnasta oppiminen ja sosiaalipedagogiikka
Keywords:
Learning through service and volunteerism, Service-Learning, Social PedagogyAbstract
At Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences all Social Services students must do an internship in voluntary work (5 credits). This internship is based on a pedagogical model: learning through service and volunteerism. In this model students learn and apply social pedagogy in real life voluntary work contexts. The model was developed in an EU funded KAMU (Buddy) -project during the academic year 2013–2014. Social Services department at Metropolia coordinated this project. The pedagogical model: learning through service and volunteerism is connected with Service-Learning -pedagogy. Learning through service and volunteerism means learning by experience; by participating in voluntary work and reflecting voluntary work experiences. It develops students’ interaction skills, participatory processes in communities and educational processes in general. At best, learning through service and volunteerism develops students’ ethical identity, their value consciousness and citizenship skills; Understanding of sociocultural animation and processes that support individuals’ participation in their communities.