Developing Social Responsibility: Impact of IS Service Learning Projects

Research has shown service learning to have an impact on the development of students' professional knowledge and skills as well as their social awareness. However, there has been limited empirical research conducted regarding the benefits of service learning in the area of IS. Unlike service learning projects in other disciplines, where the service activity facilitates direct contact between the student and the individual being helped; IS service projects tend to focus on helping the organization better service the individual in need of assistance. Thus the student has an indirect, rather than direct, impact on the individuals being served. Given the indirect nature of these IS service projects, it is not clear if these projects generate any additional benefits over other pedagogical approaches and/or provide students an increased social awareness. Therefore the goal of this research project is to investigate whether IS service learning projects increase students' sense of social responsibility.