Service learning : citizenship education through social engagement and cognitive experience

Abstract EN

The article presents a part of an action research project undertaken by students and a small village’s inhabitants, within a service learning approach.

The project lasted for three academic years (from 2014/2015till 2016/2017).

Its idea was education students’ (members of Scientific Circle of Educational Media at Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn) engagement into voluntary activity in favour of a small local community (of village near Olsztyn in Poland).

During the project students not only carried out the work for and with the members of local society but also they made a research with them (participative observation, surveys).

To fulfil the agenda of action research students were also investigated (interviewed) by the protector of the Circle (author of the article), in aim to explore the meanings they gave to their activity, learning and research process and the way they perceived and experienced the changes which were the results of the project.