Research for What? Making Engaged Scholarship Matter (Hc)

A volume in Advances in Service-Learning ResearchSeries Editor Shelley H. Billig RMC Research Corporation DenverResearch on service-learning and community engagement has exploded over the pastdecade. It is a field now characterized by increasing methodological and theoreticalsophistication vast quantitative and qualitative studies interdisciplinary research myriadsubjects and the internationalization of scholarship.The papers in this volume were selected from nearly 100 presentations made atthe 2009 annual conference of the International Association for Research on ServiceLearning and Community Engagement held in Ottawa Canada's national capital. Theconference theme Research for What? emphasized fundamental questions namely: towhat extent is rigorous research uncovering best practices in and demonstrating the positive results of service-learning onteaching learning and building better communities? The papers examine such themes through lenses that include theapplication of theory to practice K-12 and university-based service-learning interdisciplinary initiatives and internationalservice-learning. The introduction provides an overview of the very recent but remarkable growth of service-learning inCanada and the conclusion written by the recipient of the Association's annual Distinguished Researcher Award discussesmajor developments and continuing challenges in service-learning research.