scholarly journals The Influence of Student-Community Partner Working Relationships on Satisfaction: A South African University Service Learning Programme

2021 ◽  
pp. 89-105
Author(s):  
Dylan CROMHOUT ◽  
Rodney DUFFETT ◽  
Pieter STEENKAMP
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
South African ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Student Community

The impacts and success factors of a work-from-home service-learning internship during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
May Mei Ling Wong ◽  
Ka Hing Lau ◽  
Chad Wing Fung Chan
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Student Interns

PurposeCOVID-19 has changed the way we teach and learn, including service-learning (S-L). This study examines the impacts of the work-from-home (WFH) mode on the work performance and learning outcomes of student interns on an eight-week S-L internship programme, and the key factors in terms of its success.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research methodology is adopted by interviewing nine student interns and four supervisors from three community partner organisations (CPOs) to understand their experiences of how the WFH mode has impacted intern work performance and learning outcomes. Thematic analysis is used for the data analysis.FindingsThe interns uncover a number of negative WFH impacts on the S-L internship, including ineffective communication and management practice, low work efficiency and quality, a lack of task variety and learning opportunities and distractions in the home environment. Furthermore, five critical factors for WFH success are also identified, including prior preparation, effective communication systems, personal motivators at work, the nature of the job in relation to it being suited to the WFH mode, and organisational support.Originality/valueThe study examines impacts on student work performance and learning outcomes in an S-L summer internship programme operating under the WFH mode as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Key success factors and practical recommendations have been developed for enhancing the future success of S-L internships operating under the WFH mode.

College Students Training Law Enforcement Officers: The Officer Charlie Get Fit Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Judge ◽  
Tonya Skalon ◽  
Makenzie Schoeff ◽  
Shannon Powers ◽  
James Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Style ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Fat Percentage ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Project Officer

While most law enforcement agencies recognize the importance of physical fitness for their officers and encourage them to maintain an adequate level of fitness, many find it difficult to implement a fitness program successfully. Prior studies and literature support the implementation of community-centered fitness initiatives. The purpose of this study was to (1) describe participant outcomes from the service- learning project Officer Charlie Get Fit Project and (2) delineate Kolb’s experiential learning model implemented by undergraduate kinesiology majors when applied in an exercise setting. Students were charged with working directly with police officers over an 8-week program with the goal of lowering health-risk factors for the participants. Additionally, the project provided an opportunity for students to assess their own learning style and infuse it in a real-world professional application. Participants included 16 police officers (M = 44.6, SD = 10.7 years of age) and one elected city administrative official. Paired sample t tests revealed nonsignificant differences between the pretest and posttest scores on the 10 fitness measures. Descriptive statistics revealed improvements in categories of body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, sum of skinfolds, and overall body fat percentage. Participant exit interviews indicated positive qualitative results. The student reflection piece indicated that the frequent writing helped with (1) the myriad of planning and preparation issues, (2) selecting a community partner and recruiting participants, and (3) data collection and analysis. This study was an important assessment of immersive learning opportunities provided through classroom lecture and development of community partnerships.

Toward interprofessional service-learning and social accountability in health: One South African University’s process-oriented-participatory journey

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-294
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Du Toit ◽  
Shanene Olivera ◽  
Kegan Topper ◽  
Riaan van de Venter ◽  
Maggie Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Accountability ◽  
Process Oriented

scholarly journals Conceptual Framework for Assessing Process Variables Salient for Service-Learning Experience

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Hing Lau ◽  
Robin Snell
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Past ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Effective Integration

Service-learning is an established pedagogy which integrates experiential learning with community service. It has been widely adopted in higher education around the world including in Hong Kong, yet the key ingredients that determine its successful impacts for its stakeholders have not been fully assessed. This study reviewed the past literature, which indicates the key ingredients that may be found in successful service-learning programmes. We identify six key ingredients: students provide meaningful service; the community partner representative plays a positive role; effective preparation and support for students; effective reflection by students; effective integration of service-learning within the course design; and stakeholder synergy in terms of collaboration, communication and co-ownership. In order to obtain an inter-subjectively fair and trustworthy data set, reflecting the extent to which those key ingredients are perceived to have been achieved, we propose a multi-stakeholder approach for data collection, involving students, instructors and community partner representatives.

scholarly journals Implementation of a Service-Learning Project Focused on Handwashing and Vaccinations Within an Undergraduate Microbiology Laboratory Course

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Potter
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Microbiology Laboratory ◽  
Laboratory Course ◽  
Bacterial Cultures ◽  
Student Community ◽  
Strongly Agree ◽  
The Impact

Two relevant topics in keeping populations healthy are handwashing and vaccinations. Thus, the service-learning project titled “We Are Healthy” campaign was introduced within a microbiology laboratory course with two objectives; our biologists would better understand the importance of these actions by designing activities that engage the student community and to obtain an understanding of the campus community’s behaviors and beliefs concerning these topics. Students designed the campaign to include handwashing stations, pictures of bacterial cultures from swabbing common surfaces, and trivia questions testing their peers’ knowledge of various vaccines, as well as handwashing and vaccination surveys. To assess the impact of the campaign on microbiology students (n = 34), they were provided 10 questions that were scored on a scale from 1 to 5 (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). Student gains (score > 3) were reported for depth in knowledge, development of better public speaking skills, and greater respect for volunteers suggesting that the campaign was beneficial. This study subsequently led to the receiving of grants that allowed the continuation of the campaign within the course, the securing of funding for handwashing and hand sanitizing stations and the initiation of new undergraduate research projects.

Writing Partners

2018 ◽  
pp. 202-222
Author(s):  
Sarah Blomeley ◽  
Amy Hodges Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
College Level ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Community Members ◽  
International Service Learning ◽  
International Service ◽  
Learning Contexts ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Writing Assignment

This chapter describes and analyzes a writing assignment, an oral history project, developed for a college-level service-learning composition class. In bridging the writer with a single community partner and inviting the pair to jointly compose a memoir, this assignment can create a successful service-learning experience by engaging students and community members in projects that are beneficial and hold important personal, social, and political implications. The chapter also considers how the project, up to this point used successfully in local service communities, might fare in international service learning contexts.

scholarly journals Construction Management Service Learning: A “How To” Process for Success

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-92
Author(s):  
R. Casey Cline ◽  
Ken Robson ◽  
Michael Kroth
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Construction Management ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Management Service ◽  
Community Partner ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
Practical Standpoint

To ensure that students are prepared for positions in the construction industry, construction management education programs expose students to industry relevant construction management (CM) theory and practice. Traditional transmission teaching methodologies, while arguably effective for teaching management theory and practice, are not as effective for the transfer of practical leadership skills and knowledge of construction specific processes. As an alternative teaching strategy, many CM programs incorporate service-learning (S-L) into curricula; providing students practical experience, focusing on the acquisition of knowledge through goal setting, thinking, planning, experimentation, observation, and reflection.        However, from a practical standpoint, the development of a service-learning project can be a daunting task for the educator. Beyond determining a suitable project, a great deal of work must be undertaken to ensure a successful learning experience for the learner, as well as a successful project for the project owner or community partner. Processes must be put in place to ensure that the project is well developed, the student is practicing relevant CM skills, the project is completed in a timely manner to the satisfaction of the owner, and that the student learns through active reflection.        Thus, this paper is presented not as a project specific case study, but an attempt to simplify for CM educators the development of CM S-L projects and to provide a step-by-step process to facilitate a successful learning experience. 

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