Chapter 2: Service Learning in Technical and Professional Communication

This chapter clears up many questions I had before reading it, mainly, "How do you do this 'service-learning'?" One thing that has always concerned me about graduating with my degree and stepping out into the world with only that diploma to back me up, is that so many potential employers want applicants with experience. How can I gain experience if no one will hire me? Service-learning gives students an opportunity to work in the "real world" while still earning their degree, so that when we get kicked out of this nest we will have some experience to land on. I had not considered all of the benefits of service-learning- from how students benefit, to the organization "hiring" us, and even the university. The citation from Linda Flower's book on page 20 about how universities usually hold a holier-than-though attitude to the surrounding community is all too real and sad. It often seems as though universities close themselves off to the neighborhood they are nestled into, but could so obviously benefit from considering and working with the community. I am excited to get the ball rolling on our projects in class. In truth, I had quite a different idea of technical communication before starting this class, and my appreciation for the field and work of technical communication has more than quadrupled.