scholarly journals An Alternative Delivery Method for Service-Learning Projects in Construction Management

10.29007/2t87 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Bond
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Delivery Method ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Alternative Delivery ◽  
Learning Projects

The benefits of utilizing service-learning projects to facilitate student professional growth and personal development, in addition to supplementing traditional lecture and activity-based classroom education, has created a variety of new pedagogy. Typically, service-learning in Higher Education has been delivered by a capstone, senior project, or elective course providing a formalized structure for faculty to carry out their version of pedagogy. However, not all learning institutions possess the resources or have the support to offer service-learning in their curriculum. For those institutions, there appears to be a void in the available higher education literature suggesting alternative service-learning delivery systems. The purpose of the study was to determine if an all-volunteer campus-based student club managed construction project, utilizing an informal classroom setting, could be an effective alternative delivery method for providing a successful service-learning experience. A post-project student refection’s survey was conducted with an emphasis on the results of the students’ participation goals and perceived development of critical soft skills. The survey findings indicate positive student experiences with data-supported perceptions of enhanced learning and development in teamwork, communications, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These results suggest that an informal classroom system is a viable methodology for delivering service-learning experiences.

scholarly journals Redefining the Pedagogy: Service-Learning in Libraries and Archives

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Scott
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Science Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Library Science ◽  
Learning Partnerships ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

Service-learning has become an established pedagogy in higher education classrooms. With a push in recent years to offer classroom experiences that offer more than static lectures, service-learning incorporates three main elements into its model; experiential learning, contribution to the community, and reflection which merges theory with practice for a unique learning experience. Service-learning can also be found in early models of library science education. This article will highlight service-learning projects in both libraries and archives that used innovative methods to create partnerships in the community. It will also argue that both libraries and archives should not be overlooked when considering these projects and can be valuable resources for successful service-learning partnerships.

scholarly journals Service Learning: Bringing The Business Classroom To Life

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (9) ◽  
pp. 55-60
Author(s):  
Lauren Ayers ◽  
Tristan L. Gartin ◽  
Brannan D. Lahoda ◽  
Shannon R. Veyon ◽  
Megan Rushford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Management Level ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

While service-learning may be easily incorporated into medical or legal fields, this type of active learning generally has not been historically integrated into any discipline within the business curriculum. This is unfortunate, as the utilization of business students in not-for-profit environments can provide a triple-win scenario:  the students receive an enriched learning experience, as they likely will confront opportunities at the entry level that are not generally experienced until the middle-management level; the administrators at the not-for-profit have access to business students with skills that are necessary but typically expensive to acquire; and the constituents served by the organization are enriched by having improved delivery or efficiency of service.  Within this paper, we will discuss the service-learning environment and will then detail a project we have worked on in a service-learning-oriented class, with the hope that others may use our experience to facilitate their own service-learning projects as students or within the context of a class.

Accessibility of Sino-African Educational Partnerships in Higher Education

2017 ◽  
pp. 37-50
Author(s):  
Chak Pong Gordon Tsui
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Educational Partnerships ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
African Students ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

By analyzing current literatures (2012-2016) and using author's personal experience in bringing one Chinese university's students to have service learning projects in Africa, this chapter aims at 1. reviewing the current forms of and 2. explore the alternative way of Sino-African educational partnerships in higher education since the establishment of Peoples' Republic of China in 1949. The literatures have informed that Sino-African educational partnerships have received positive feedback. However, cultural challenges associated with the existing educational partnerships may result in lowering the partnerships quality. The motivations of the African students to pursue their studies in Chinese universities may subsequently be lowered. To deal with these potential problems, the chapter argues that one way to handle the cultural issues could be to let both Chinese and African students experience their cultures physically before educational partnerships.

Accessibility of Sino-African Educational Partnerships in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 385-398
Author(s):  
Chak Pong Gordon Tsui
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Educational Partnerships ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
African Students ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

By analyzing current literatures (2012-2016) and using author's personal experience in bringing one Chinese university's students to have service learning projects in Africa, this chapter aims at 1. reviewing the current forms of and 2. explore the alternative way of Sino-African educational partnerships in higher education since the establishment of Peoples' Republic of China in 1949. The literatures have informed that Sino-African educational partnerships have received positive feedback. However, cultural challenges associated with the existing educational partnerships may result in lowering the partnerships quality. The motivations of the African students to pursue their studies in Chinese universities may subsequently be lowered. To deal with these potential problems, the chapter argues that one way to handle the cultural issues could be to let both Chinese and African students experience their cultures physically before educational partnerships.

Community Service Learning Increases Communication Skills Across the Business Curriculum

1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L. Tucker ◽  
Anne M. McCarthy ◽  
John A. Hoxmeier ◽  
Margarita M. Lenk
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Elementary Students ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Community Service Learning ◽  
Accounting Systems ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

Community service learning offers a unique and rewarding way for business students to reinforce communication capabilities while developing lifelong career and social skills. This article defines community service learning, dis cusses its importance to business as well as higher education, and describes three community service learning projects. Students in these projects taught elementary students, designed a computer system for a community nonprofit, and developed accounting systems for university divisions. In doing so, they enhanced their understanding of classroom theories and communication skills through service-learning.

Measuring Students' Attitudes toward College Education's Role in Addressing Social Issues

2008 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 791-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Weber ◽  
Paula S. Weber ◽  
Barney L. Craven
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Business Education ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects ◽  
Standard Techniques

As service-learning projects have spread throughout academia, efforts to assess the service-learning experience have assumed a greater importance. The BERSI scale (Business Education's Role in addressing Social Issues) was developed as a measure of business students' attitudes toward social issues being addressed as part of a business education. As such, it was intended to be useful in assessing attitudinal outcomes of service learning. In order for the BERSI to be useful for nonbusiness students, the scale would need to be reconceptualized and revalidated. This study modified the BERSI items with a focus on college students in general rather than business students, making the resulting scale, College Education's Role in addressing Social Issues (CERSI), potentially helpful to service-learning researchers in a broader setting. The CERSI scale was then validated using standard techniques and normative data were reported.

The practice of professional skills and civic engagement through service learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhui Sophy Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Community Service Learning ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Course Material ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the community service learning initiative among Taiwanese communication students by examining the link between the value of work-based learning and learning outcomes from the applied classroom projects. Design/methodology/approach This study involves the applied classroom projects. Data are captured in both quantitative (i.e. survey) and qualitative methods (i.e. reflective papers). The survey is designed to measure general attitudes and perceptions of service learning students. The reflective papers focus on the participants’ expectations of the service learning outcome. Findings The findings suggest that work-based and service learning projects are beneficial for the students, faculty, university and community partners. As an extension of experiential learning, students acquire a deeper understanding of the course material, gain practical expertise in the real world, develop interpersonal communication skills and engage in civic responsibility. Practical implications This study supports the notion that service learning engagements help students develop problem-solving skills. It is suggested that since the content of traditional learning in the discipline of communication has changed extensively over the past decades (i.e. from traditional media to new digital media), service learning can be a complimentary tool to not only broaden students’ learning, but to also expand their professional horizons and opportunities. Originality/value The current study expands existing theory and advances our understanding of service learning in the discipline of communication in a Taiwanese context. With practical roots embedded in Western educational initiatives linking service learning to higher education, this paper reveals that service learning does work across cultures as well.

scholarly journals Limitaciones del aprendizaje-servicio en la formación inicial en actividad físico-deportiva (Limitations of service-learning in initial training in physical activity and sports)

Retos ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 509-517
Author(s):  
María Luisa Santos Pastor ◽  
Laura Cañadas ◽  
Luis Fernando Martínez Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Initial Training ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
High Workload ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Study Context

El Aprendizaje-Servicio constituye un enfoque innovador que fomenta la participación solidaria del alumnado. Ha mostrado tener beneficios tanto para el aprendizaje como para su desarrollo personal. Aunque no se duda de la potencialidad formativa de los proyectos de Aprendizaje-Servicio, su aplicación presenta limitaciones (dificultades e inconvenientes) que requieren una revisión profunda, con el fin de poder obtener criterios claros para el desarrollo de experiencias de éxito. Por ello, el objetivo de esta investigación es analizar las limitaciones de la implementación de una experiencia de Aprendizaje-Servicio en actividad físico-deportiva en formación inicial. Participaron tres docentes de la asignatura Actividades Físico-Deportivas en el Medio Natural del grado de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y el Deporte de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid y 30 alumnos de segundo curso con participación voluntaria y 61 receptores del servicio. La información se recogió a través de un portafolio del alumnado y entrevistas al alumnado y el diario del docente. Entre las dificultades detectadas en la experiencia destacan: (1) la falta de formación y experiencia del alumnado universitario en lo referente al diseño, intervención y evaluación de proyectos de actividad físico-deportiva; (2) la elevada carga de trabajo tanto para profesorado como para alumnado; y (3) la dificultad para desarrollar acciones coordinadas, tanto entre programas, como entre profesorado y alumnado, como entre el propio alumnado. La limitación de la investigación viene dada por el contexto de estudio y la aplicación de un programa específico de actividad física. Abstract. Service-Learning is an innovative approach that encourages solidarity participation of students, which has shown benefits for students’ learning and their personal development. Although there is no doubt about the formative potential of Service-Learning projects, its application has limitations (difficulties and inconveniences) that require a deep review, in order to draw clear criteria for the development of successful experiences. Therefore, the aim of this research is to analyze the limitations of the implementation of a Service-Learning experience in physical activity and sport in initial training. Three teachers of the subject in Physical Activities and Sports in the Natural Environment of the Physical Activity and Sports Science degree at the Autonomous University of Madrid took part in the study, along with 30 second-year students who voluntarily offered to participate, and 61 service recipients. The information was collected through portfolios and interviews with the students, and with teachers’ logs. Among the difficulties detected in the experience we found: (1) university students’ lack of training and experience with the design, intervention, and assessment of physical activity and sports projects; (2) high workload for both teachers and students; and (3) difficulty to develop coordinated actions among programs, between teachers and students, and among the students themselves. Limitations of this research are represented by the study context and the application of specific programs of physical activity.

scholarly journals The Challenge of Including Customer Satisfaction into the Assessment Criteria of Overseas Service-Learning Projects

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Camille George ◽  
Ashley Shams
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
Student Groups ◽  
International Service Learning ◽  
International Service ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Learning Projects

There has been a dramatic increase of student groups participating in international service learning projects. For engineering students it is not difficult to identify meaningful educational objectives. The students improve their analytical and problem solving skills. They design and build something that fulfils a list of engineering specifications; they execute a solution to some problem. However, these projects have a human dimension. Service-learning involves changes in peoples’ beliefs, attitudes and values; impacting both the students and the recipient community. It is important for the academic community to develop assessment criteria that includes perspectives from all stakeholders engaged in the experience. It is imperative to assess not only the technical success but also the sustainability of the project and its larger effect. In courses involving service-learning, assessment needs to occur on three levels: the traditional evaluation of the student’s knowledge of the technical content, the assessment of the experiences impact on the students’ broader more humanistic “soft skills”, and the customer’s satisfaction. The paper examines the obstacles and opportunities in assessing project success from multiple international service-learning programs, and compiles insights and reflections that could serve to inform future projects.

Service-Learning and Social Justice for College and University Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 807-833
Author(s):  
Susan Trostle Brand
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Problem Solving Skills ◽  
International Service Learning ◽  
International Service ◽  
College And University ◽  
Rich Diversity ◽  
The Rich ◽  
Service Learning Projects ◽  
Diversity Of Life ◽  
Learning Projects

All students deserve access to the types of learning that enable them to experience firsthand the rich diversity of life to understand the challenges that others face in their everyday living and to learn collaborative and impactful problem-solving skills to help combat inequality at the local, national, and international levels. A perusal of service-learning addressed in this chapter includes an examination of the benefits for both the participant and the recipient. The chapter addresses the need for service-learning for people who are marginalized because of their gender identity or sexual preferences, disabilities, class, race, gender, age, or a combination of factors associated with marginalization. Recommended practices for ensuring successful service-learning projects and various types of service-learning are discussed. Six sequential steps in implementing a service-learning project are delineated. The chapter concludes with examples of local, regional, national, and international service-learning projects and testimonials from recent local and international service-learning providers.

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