Service Learning Through NPOS: The New Service-Dominant Logic in Education?

Who is the true arbiter of value in the educational setting? How can students connect course learning to community needs? These are some of the questions this paper raises in its application of service-dominant logic to the service learning pedagogy via the discussion of specific class-based projects. The framework proposed offers a tool for professors and nonprofit organizations to assess the value stakeholders receive from partnering in a service learning experience. The tool also allows an assessment of active learning effectiveness using nonprofit organization compared to for-profit organization. Propositions are offered to challenge the positions suggested by the framework (i.e., partnering with nonprofits is an effective catalyst for heightening learning while also increasing awareness of societal needs and obligations).