ASU empowers educators to lead with purpose through service learning
Through service learning, educators can empower students to make a difference while building essential skills for life.
Arizona State University is helping educators bring real-world relevance into their classrooms through service learning—a teaching approach that combines academic instruction with meaningful community engagement.
Launched in partnership with Youth Service America, ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation now offers the course Designing and Implementing a Service-Learning Experience, on the ASU Professional Educator Learning Hub. The course is designed to support K–12 educators, school leaders and families in planning impactful projects that help students develop durable skills—like communication, collaboration, and leadership—while making a difference in their communities.
Service learning helps students connect classroom content with real-world challenges. Research shows that students engaged in service projects report increased academic engagement, stronger leadership skills and higher levels of college and career readiness. More importantly, students begin to see themselves as agents of change, building a sense of personal purpose and civic responsibility.
The course’s flexible and practical design ensures that teachers can integrate what they learn right away, regardless of classroom structure or subject area. Participants will also explore how to support youth-led initiatives, develop cross-curricular connections and align service learning with broader educational outcomes.
Educators are also invited to attend a free 45-minute webinar—Designing Effective Service-Learning to Connect the Classroom and Community. The session will offer insights on how to create impactful, student-driven projects that build durable skills while strengthening communities.