The service learning values map

Abstract

Despite the fact that the specialized bibliography recognizes service learning as a relevant methodologyfor values education, a sufficiently complete list of the plurality of values that it activates, is not yet available.The objective of this article is to build a reliable map of the values that service learning proposes. In orderto achieve it, the levels of learning that overlap in a complex educational practice will be defined and thenthe values that works at each level of service-learning practices will be determined. To achieve this, a rationalreconstruction work based on the reciprocal optimization achieved between a selection of good service learning experiences and the theory of moral practices and service-learning has been carried out. This methodology has allowed us to establish three simultaneous levels of learning —practice, actions and tasks— as well as a list of the values that crystallize in each of them: a complete map of the variety and richness of values that are put into play in service learning. A result that, in the processes of teacher training, will help to raise awareness of the moral strength of this methodology and to activate it during their professional performance.