Other modern forms of learning

Service-learning is a form of experiential learning that integrates learning with socially responsible action in the community. A key characteristic of this approach is the reflective component – students not only participate in activities that are beneficial to society, but also systematically reflect on these experiences in relation to academic goals, personal development and social values. This type of learning contributes to the development of social awareness, civic responsibility, ethical reflection and professional competences, especially in the context of higher education. The student learns “outside the classroom” – through concrete tasks such as working with vulnerable groups, environmental initiatives, educational assistance and similar forms of social contribution.

Service learning connects students from different studies into teams that design and implement projects to address specific community needs. In higher education in Croatia, it was experimentally introduced in 2006 at the graduate study program in Information and Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, and has been implemented continuously since then. Based on John Dewey's ideas about active participation/learning, SL puts the student at the center of the process, reduces forgetting of material, and develops critical thinking and practical experiences.

SL differs from volunteering because it systematically connects fieldwork with academic outcomes and critical reflection, and it also differs from professional practice because, along with application, it specifically encourages the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for the mutual benefit of students and the community. It additionally contributes to social justice, empowers students for personal development and social inclusion, and develops civic responsibility.

Through SL, students acquire competencies important for employment that are often not part of the mandatory curriculum. They consolidate existing knowledge, develop new skills, build experience, contacts and references, and more clearly see the purpose of their studies. At the same time, the faculty's connection with the social environment is strengthened and the goals of its civic mission are achieved.

E-service learning (e-SL)

According to Dailey-Hebert and Donnelli, e-SL is a pedagogy of solidarity and collaboration that engages students through technology in inquiry, reflection, and community action. e-SL encourages students to sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while learning how to become active and engaged citizens and using digital tools. The goal of e-SL is to connect the classroom with the community by providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-world context. Through this approach, students become more aware of their responsibility to the community and gain a deeper understanding of social needs.

Experts from the Department of Information and Communication Sciences of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, participated in the further development of SL according to the concept of e-SL (e-service learning), as part of the European project "eSL4EU: e-Service Learning for more digital and inclusive EU Higher Education systems", resulting in a set of guidelines and tools developed for higher education teachers with the following goals:

1. build learning systems with an innovative pedagogical approach that integrates community activities into the academic curriculum
2. promote the change from the traditional community-based assistance model to a horizontal solidarity model
3. disseminate knowledge about e-SL methodologies by developing materials to train teachers to adopt e-SL in their teaching practice, guiding their students in implementing e-SL and assessing their learning while addressing the social needs of people with fewer opportunities, especially in cases of emergency situations such as a pandemic or other unforeseen difficulties
4. develop the digital skills of teachers and lecturers in higher education aimed at implementing the e-SL methodology.

The project also created a manual for teachers (in Croatian), which is available at the link.

Technological tools for e-SL

These tools can be used for e-SL:

• Social media and blog platforms: Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Facebook groups, WordPress or Medium can be used to share project updates, engage with the community and promote awareness of e-SL initiatives.
• Online portfolio platforms: Tools such as Mahara, Portfolium or WordPress allow students to create and showcase their digital portfolios highlighting their experiences, projects and achievements at e-SL.
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Tool: Innovative technologies such as Oculus Rift or AR mobile applications offer immersive virtual augmented environments allowing students to explore virtual environments related to their projects or engage in simulations.
• Data visualization tools: Tools such as Tableau, Infogram, or Plotly allow the creation of visually compelling charts, diagrams, and interactive visualizations for analyzing and presenting data collected during e-SL activities.