Service learning as a high-impact practice: Integrating business communication skills to benefit others

Abstract

Business schools today must implement teaching approaches that develop graduates who are ethical, socially responsible, and globally aware. One approach to achieving this goal is to implement mission consistent curriculum. The authors describe the process of developing a service learning project administered in a business communications course at a small liberal arts college. The process included creating learning goals, identifying target markets, developing project ideas, planning the project, implementing a fundraising event, and measuring learning outcomes. By completing the project, students developed their communication and teamwork skills and became more globally and socially aware.

Keywords:

• Business communication
• high-impact practice
• mission-driven curriculum
• service-learning