Service Learning is Different From:

Volunteerism - where the primary emphasis is on service being provided and the primary intended beneficiary is clearly the service recipient.

Community Service - where the primary focus [is] on the service being provided as well as the benefits the service activities have on the recipients. Students receive some benefits by learning more about how their service makes a difference.

Internships - [that] engages students in service activities primarily for the purpose of providing students with hands-on experiences that enhance their learning or understanding of issues relevant to a particular study.

Field Education - [that] provide(s) students with co-curricular service opportunities that are related, but not fully integrated, with their formal academic studies. Students perform the service as a part of a program that is designed primarily to enhance students’ understanding of a field of study, while also providing substantial emphasis on the service being provided.

Furco Andrew (1996). Service-Learning: A Balanced Approach to Experiential Education. Expanding Boundaries: Service and Learning. Corporation for National Service.