Hybrid service learning (HSL) to promote civic engagement: A systematic literature review.

This article systematically reviews the implementation of Hybrid Service Learning (HSL)—a pedagogical model combining online and face-to-face service-learning—in civic education to enhance civic engagement. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, seventeen relevant studies from 2012 to 2023 were analyzed, revealing three main HSL types with Hybrid Type III (blended instruction and service both online and on-site) as the most prevalent and adaptable model. The review identifies key implementation phases—preparation, execution, and reflection—and finds that HSL positively influences civic engagement by fostering social responsibility, civic skills, critical consciousness, and ethical reasoning. The study highlights HSL’s potential to bridge theoretical and practical gaps in civic education, while noting challenges such as digital access disparities and the need for further research on educator readiness and assessment methodologies.