Title

Service-Learning pedagogy for achieving Active Citizenship in Maharashtra middle-schools (6^th,7^th,8^th grades)

Abstract

One of the presumptions of a well-functioning, viable democracy is that citizens are well informed about community issues, they participate in various ways to address those community issues, and the quality of life is improved as a result of their involvement (Wandersman and Florin 1999). Realization, acceptance, and acknowledgement have been the central hindrances in identifying and resolving those concerns. An Active Citizen is an entity that proactively takes responsibility and initiatives in the areas of public concern (Oxford Dictionary). One of the aspects of Active Citizenship is Civic Engagement, which is to work towards resolving community concerns and participate in the betterment of community life. Civic engagement is the process of believing that one can and should make a difference in enhancing his or her community (Ehrlich, 2000). For that, students need to be exposed to the challenges faced in society such as hunger and domestic violence (and others) so that they become capable of resolving those in the future (Cress, Collier, & Reitenauer, 2013).

Education can help in developing such Active Citizens. Service-Learning is a pedagogical approach used to assure Civic Outcomes like learning how to become partners in their communities and working with others to solve community problems (Battistoni, 1997). As per Jacoby, Service-learning is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development (Jacoby, 1996, pp. 3-25). Service-Learning is therefore treated as Civic Learning, which contributes to the future participatory citizens. Curriculum, Pedagogies, and all practices in the schools can allow engagement in and with the communities through the service-learning approach. This research will try to understand whether Service-Learning can influence Active Citizenship in middle schools students from Maharashtra state, India.