Developing Leadership Skills and a Commitment to Civic Engagement During an Undergraduate Community-Based Service Learning Class

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim C. Graber ◽  
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko ◽  
Jamie A. O’Connor ◽  
Jenny M. Linker
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Carnegie Classifications ◽  
Community Data

Civic engagement and service learning opportunities provide students with unique real-world experiences they are unable to acquire in a traditional in-class setting. Students develop a commitment to the community in which they live, exposure to other populations, leadership abilities, skills to work successfully within a team, and a chance to learn from failure. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized the importance of such opportunities and has added the Community Engagement Classification to the restructured Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. The purpose of this paper is to provide a synthesis of the literature that addresses civic engagement and service learning opportunities and to describe a university class that was designed to provide undergraduate students with a capstone service learning experience promoting wellness for older adults in the community. Data that were collected to evaluate the success of the class are also described.

scholarly journals In the Pursuit of Justice: A Case Study on the Role of Service-Learning in Developing Civic Engagement among College Students in Egypt

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Neivin Shalabi
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Civic Skills ◽  
Civic Awareness

Service-learning is a form of experiential education that connects classroom instruction with community service for the benefits of the partners involved. While the effects of service-learning on college students are well documented in Western settings, considerably less is known about these effects in Eastern contexts. Given the current profound political changes in Egypt and the greater Arab world, this research utilized a case study design to explore the potential of service-learning for developing civic awareness among college students at a university in Northern Egypt. Findings revealed that participation in service-learning allowed students valuable opportunities to connect with others from backgrounds different from their own. Through their work in the community, students gained important civic skills, including thinking critically and addressing public problems, developing perspective-taking positions, and enhancing coping capabilities. The study outcomes suggest a cultural shift in Egypt that validates young adults as a productive segment of population thus affording them structured opportunities for civic engagement through which they could exercise their leadership skills and effect positive change in their communities. The ongoing critical engagement of students in their communities where they grapple with questions about the structural causes of inequalities in society is pivotal for service-learning to be a truly empowering learning experience.

scholarly journals Kilimanjaro: A Case of Meaningful Adventure And Service Learning Abroad

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-433
Author(s):  
Cathy Cavanaugh ◽  
Ewa Gajer ◽  
John Mayberry ◽  
Brendan O’Connor ◽  
Jace Hargis
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Meaningful Learning ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Female Undergraduate ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Mount Kilimanjaro ◽  
The World

This qualitative evaluation explored how female undergraduate students developed an understanding of themselves and the broader world as a result of an adventure and service learning experience in Tanzania, Africa. The project built upon theoretical frameworks regarding meaningful learning—active, constructive, intentional, and authentic—and applied activity theory as a framework for interpreting outcomes. The study included multi-faceted examination of student perceptions of the effects of the year-long experience that culminated in a ten day trip to Tanzania, including a climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Students’ reflections on the impacts of the trip focused on wanting, doing, reflecting, and relating. Thus, the experience catalyzed change in students’ understanding of the world that strongly indicates a meaningful learning experience.

Enriching the intersection of service and transformative learning with Freirean ideas: The case of a critical experiential learning programme in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-597
Author(s):  
Rosane Dal Magro ◽  
Marlei Pozzebon ◽  
Soraia Schutel
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Management Education ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Management Students

In this article, we examine the value of combining transformative and service learning pedagogical practices in management education programmes to encourage management students to be more critical and reflexive regarding serious contemporary issues like social inequality and sustainability. We draw on a long-term management education experience conducted in the northeastern region of Brazil, where international students learn how to develop a real-time community-based project with local inhabitants. We argue that while service learning approaches promote pragmatic action-based principles, transformative learning acts at the epistemic level, contributing to change in values. In addition, Paulo Freire’s ideas are integrated to reinforce critical and reflexive dimensions of the learning experience. Our results offer a process-based model showing how a critical experiential learning pedagogy might lead to the development of community-based competences, which, in turn, might lead to changes in the deeply held values of the participants. Freire’s emancipatory ideas are applied not only regarding the relationship between teachers and students, but also to the distinction between Western and non-Western societies, going beyond questioning of the destructive consequences of financial capitalism to question the hegemony of one worldview over all other possible ones.

scholarly journals Gutter Design and Business Development for Domestic Rainwater Harvesting Systems: A Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-78
Author(s):  
Jillian Zankowski ◽  
Yixin Sun ◽  
Abdalla Nassar ◽  
Khanjan Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Rectangular Cross Section ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Skill Sets ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
And Performance

Rainwater harvesting is a simple and effective tool to collect and store water for domestic and institutional use. In developing countries, captured rainwater can be used to replace or supplement government-supplied or manually-transported water. A rainwater harvesting system consists of a catchment area, gutter, and storage tank. Gutters typically have a V-shaped, trapezoidal or rectangular cross-section. This work presents a case study on the design and performance analysis of three conventional and one novel, “wrapped” gutter cross-section along with the implementation of a novel gutter design in the developing world. A Team of undergraduate students performed the design and analysis and, though a service-learning experience in May 2013, investigated barriers to implementing rainwater harvesting in central Kenya. It was found that while gutters can be easily fabrication and installed using locally-available materials and skill-sets, for consumer, the potential return on investment was low and the cost of implementation was high. For producers and installers, non-uniform roof designs and conditions was a major obstacle.

scholarly journals Service-learning in a Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management Academic Program

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-98
Author(s):  
Kevin Naaman ◽  
Chengming Hu ◽  
Brandon Howell ◽  
Weixuan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Social Awareness ◽  
Event Management ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
Learning Barriers

One-hundred and twenty-three undergraduate students in three Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (THEM) courses participated in a survey that captured service-learning barriers and perceptions of the experiences over the course of the 2017 spring semester. Results from the exploratory factor analysis generated three distinct factors from the perceived benefits of service-learning: (1) civic engagement, (2) social awareness, and (3) translational learning. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between barriers and perceptions of service-learning benefits. Implications from this research includes the identification and creation of interventions to reduce barriers so students may receive the benefits associated with service-learning.  

scholarly journals Service Learning in Early Childhood Education: In the Class of Curriculum Design and Practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Mei-Ling Chuang
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Childhood Care ◽  
The Impact

Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted with undergraduate students majoring in early childhood care and education to explore the impact of service-learning on personal and professional development, as well as to assess satisfaction with the service-learning project. The data were gathered at a baby care center, where these students arranged games, through a questionnaire given to the students (N=37), a questionnaire given to parents who came with their children to the center (N=34), as well as reflection paper and report by the students on how they felt about the activity. The qualitative data were analyzed from five different aspects: (1). Enhancing students’ academic knowledge and skills, (2). Learning public service from the activity, (3). Cooperation and teamwork, (4) Benefits for children, (5) Suggestions of students afterwards. The findings of this research demonstrated that this service learning experience was beneficial for children, parents and the students, enhancing students’ academic knowledge, problem solving skills, as well as interpersonal development.

English at Your Service

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Helene Krauthamer ◽  
Matthew Petti
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
General Education ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Black College ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Historically Black College ◽  
Community Based Learning ◽  
The Impact

This chapter discusses civic engagement and service-learning in higher education at an urban, land-grant, Historically Black College/University, with a particular focus on the challenges and benefits of service-learning for commuter students. After a discussion of service learning and how it exemplifies the Kolb learning model and effective educational practice, the chapter presents illustrations of civic engagement and extracurricular community-based learning in an English BA program through its two student organizations – The Literary Club and Sigma Tau Delta-Alpha Epsilon Rho. The chapter also provides an example of how service-learning has been implemented in a General Education program and specifically in a writing course. The chapter highlights the partnerships with community organizations that have developed, presents reflective testimonials about the impact of these experiences, provides recommendations for strengthening community-based learning, and concludes that service-learning/community-based learning results in a sense of community for all participants.

Music Theory Clubs and their Roles in School and Community

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Beavers
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Music Theory ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Community Based ◽  
School And Community

A Music Theory Club is an extra-curricular activity, found primarily in institutions of higher education, that provides mostly undergraduate students with exceptional experiences geared toward deepening their understanding of music. Because the membership of these clubs need not be limited to students majoring or minoring in music, or even to those who are enrolled in a music theory class, they may be considered examples of public music theory. Additionally, the members may choose to engage in community-based public music theory projects. In the following chapter, the author explores what a music theory club is, how it benefits students, faculty, and community alike, how to start one, and the types of activities a music theory club can be involved with.

Narratives of Experiential Learning: Students’ Engagement in a Physical Activity-Based Service-Learning Course

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith A. Whitley ◽  
David Walsh ◽  
Laura Hayden ◽  
Daniel Gould
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Student Growth ◽  
Type Method ◽  
Individual Variables ◽  
Depth And Complexity ◽  
Level Of Effort

Purpose:Three undergraduate students’ experiences in a physical activity-based service learning course are chronicled using narrative inquiry.Method:Data collection included demographics questionnaires, pre- and postservice interviews, reflection journals, postservice written reflections, and participant observations. The data were analyzed with comprehensive deductive and inductive analysis procedures, along with the creation of detailed narratives summarizing students’ individual experiences and outcomes.Results:Results revealed student growth and development, including leadership development, improved interpersonal skills, increased knowledge of social justice issues, and enhanced self-understanding. However, the number, depth, and complexity of these outcomes varied significantly, which was largely explained by individual variables (e.g., interest in learning, level of effort, degree of adaptability).Discussion:These findings highlight the opportunity for course instructors to lead reflective activities before and during the service-learning experience, along with providing individualized guidance and feedback on students’ learning, effort, and adaptability throughout the service-learning course.

scholarly journals The Development of Media Activities by Undergraduate Students in Order to Promote Agricultural Tourism Community Enterprise According to the Principles of Social Service Learning and Community-Based Leaning

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Kuntida Thamwipat ◽  
Pornpapatsorn Princhankol ◽  
Sakesun Yampinij ◽  
Sopon Meejaleurn
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Social Service ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Community Based ◽  
After Action Review ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Addie Model ◽  
Agricultural Tourism ◽  
Tourism Community

This research was aimed to develop media activities by undergraduate students to promote agricultural tourism community enterprise according to the principles of social service learning and community-based learning, 2) to evaluate the quality of such media activities, 3) to measure the income of the community after the development of media activities, and 4) to evaluate the satisfaction and the learning achievements of the sampling group. This research was conducted in the second semester of the academic year 2016. There were 5 important phases as in 1) Survey on the concepts and the community’s demands, 2) Development of media activities according to ADDIE Model, 3) Evaluation of the quality by 9 experts and the results showed that the contents were of good quality (=4.33, SD=0.63) and that the presentation was of good quality (=4.48, SD=0.54), 4) Measurement of the income of 34 persons in the community and it showed an average income of 6000 to 12000 Baht, or 15% increase, and the satisfaction of the local shops was at the highest level (=4.66, SD=0.54), and 5) Evaluation of the satisfaction and the learning achievements of 79 undergraduate students showed that the students expressed the highest level of satisfaction (=4.70, SD=0.26). After Action Review (AAR) showed that the learning achievements were good because students gained practical knowledge and used their experience in every step of their activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document