IMPORTANCE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICE LEARNING IN SPORT AND HEALTH HIGHER EDUCATION AREA

Abstract

Service learning is increasingly recognized as a pedagogical approach providing benefits to students, faculties, educational institutions, communities, and society. It is challenge-based and a credit-based activity with many confirmed benefits in higher education areas such as developing students’ academic and personal skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication. The main aim of the research is to analyse differences in attitudes related to service learning between students who participated in academic courses with service-learning topics, and students who have no servicelearning knowledge on an academic level. The research was conducted on a sample of 88 students of Physical Education aged between 20 and 24 divided into two subsamples. Students in the experimental group (N=30) were attendees of an academic course where service learning themes were implemented. Students in the control group (N=58) did not participate in the programs with service learning themes on an academic level. SELEB questionnaire with six categories: civic responsibility, interpersonal skills, leadership ability, ability to apply knowledge, general life skills, and critical thinking, were used for measuring service learning benefits for students. Differences in research groups were noted for all six categories implying that implementation of service learning content in higher education programs of physical education and sports can improve students’ attitudes and quality of higher education.