The pressures upon students from employers are greater than ever. Demands for a highly skilled workforce in a digitalized economy mean that higher education institutions need to do more to prepare their student bodies for this new way of working. The geographical boundaries set by traditional on-campus courses prevent most universities from allowing online students to engage in community service. Online service-learning responds to this limitation by initiating the transfer of in-person community service to the online environment. E-service learning addresses the growing demand for flexible online courses and programs. Anchored in research and supported by eight years of successful implantation, this book presents an award-winning e-service-learning model which allows students to enhance their employability with real work experience. Faculty can go beyond theory while building their service requirements, and may use e-service-learning to offer real world applications and hands-on experience. Clients benefit from pro bono services, and universities are able to fulfill their strategic goals, serve the community-at-large, and grow their online programs by offering students a unique online course experience. This book advocates a model and instructions for faculty to successfully integrate a remote service-learning and consulting component in an online course making this an illuminating text for higher education researchers and leaders alike.

"This volume outlines a model and instructions for faculty to integrate a remote service-learning and consulting component into online courses, to help students gain real work experience while strengthening their confidence and communication and virtual teamwork skills, as well as serve the community. It discusses the best practices, limitations, and benefits of service-learning/consulting in online education and addresses theoretical aspects related to distance education, service-learning and e-service-learning, and consulting; the integration of e-service-learning in online courses, including the role of teams and a three-step model for integration; a case study of an e-consulting initiative in an online program at a US university; and recommendations for a successful program." - (protoview.com)