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.

scholarly journals Emergency Remote Teaching during COVID-19: A Comparison of Student Perceptions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Fuchs
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Hybrid Learning ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Education Community ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The World

The pandemic has shaken up the higher education landscape around the world, with responses from institutions falling into three categories: retaining in-class teaching with social distancing, adopting hybrid models (blended learning, limiting the number of students on campus), or transitioning to fully online teaching. However, there is a significant difference between emergency remote teaching and a genuine shift to online/hybrid learning, with the key distinguishing term being “emergency.” In response to the global pandemic, the higher education community is now working on the continuous development of action plans in a quest to identify means to manage the crisis more efficiently. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the perceived performance of ERT from the perspective of undergraduate students. For that purpose, samples (n=332) were taken in two different geographical settings, i.e., Thailand and Sweden. Moreover, it is the objective to compare both samples and identify similarities and inadequacies which help stakeholders to manage ERT more efficiently in the future.

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.

Video episodes and action cameras in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory: eliciting student perceptions of meaningful learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelli R. Galloway ◽  
Stacey Lowery Bretz
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Meaningful Learning ◽  
Affective Learning ◽  
The Self ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Undergraduate Chemistry ◽  
Affective Experiences

A series of quantitative studies investigated undergraduate students' perceptions of their cognitive and affective learning in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory. To explore these quantitative findings, a qualitative research protocol was developed to characterize student learning in the undergraduate chemistry laboratory. Students (N= 13) were observed and video recorded while performing one of their assigned laboratory experiments. Each student wore an action camera as well as a lapel microphone attached to a voice recorder to capture the experiment from the students' perspective. A tripod camera was also placed unobtrusively in the lab to record the student from a third person perspective. Students were interviewed within 48 hours of their video recording and asked to identify specific learning experiences in their laboratory experiment. The self-selected video episodes were shown to the students, and they were asked to describe what they were doing and why they were doing it. The students' descriptions were analyzed using Novak's theory of meaningful learning to characterize their cognitive and affective experiences. The self-identified learning experiences were dominated by descriptions of psychomotor learning with few students discussing cognitive experiences. The limited connections between cognitive and affective experiences revealed missed opportunities for meaningful learning.

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.

Students’ Feedback

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenicheri Sid Nair
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Student Evaluations ◽  
Quality System ◽  
Teaching Environment ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
The World ◽  
Evaluation Information

The collection of stakeholder feedback has been gradually increasing in universities around the world. The most common practice is the use of surveys to evaluate student perceptions of their units (subjects), courses, programs and overall learning experience. The elements of a good quality system involve not only collecting evaluation information but making improvements based on it. This article gives an overview of the importance of student evaluations, the research supporting such feedback and a case study that illustrates how evaluation and improvement enhance the learning and teaching environment.

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 COVID-19 Modifications to a Service-Learning Project Designed to Prepare Special Education Students to Be Effective Participants in Transdisciplinary Collaborations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Doody ◽  
Katrina Fulcher ◽  
Pamela Schueltze
Keyword(s):  
Special Education ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Language Pathology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Early Childhood Settings

This research study examined the impact of COVID-19 on university students’ perceptions about the effectiveness of a community-based service-learning project designed to prepare graduate students in special education and undergraduate students in psychology and speech-language pathology to work in transdisciplinary teams in early childhood settings. Students were placed into transdisciplinary teams and assigned to one of two community-based early childhood programs to administer a universal screening tool that assessed young children in several domains. The project was in its sixth year when the country stood still because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was re-envisioned, mid-course, to provide an equitable and rigorous assignment for students who were unable to complete the original assignment due to the lockdown. Student perceptions were compared, pre and post COVID; subsequent results are discussed in alignment with the original four goals of the project. Additionally, suggestions are posed to position this service-learning assignment for remote delivery should the pandemic persist to disrupt higher education.

scholarly journals Student perceptions of quality in higher education: effect of year of study, gender and ethnicity.

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Dicker ◽  
Mikey Garcia ◽  
Alison Kelly ◽  
Parisa Modabber ◽  
Alex O'Farrell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Support Services ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Academic Staff ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
High Quality Education ◽  
Quality Perceptions ◽  
Quality In Higher Education

Student expectations with regard to what comprises quality in higher education can impact upon their learning, engagement and overall satisfaction. Perceptions of quality are not always clearly articulated and may vary by gender, ethnicity and year of study. In this study, undergraduate students completed a questionnaire indicating whether they agreed, disagreed or were unsure about 15 statements related to quality in higher education. A total of 340 students across four year groups participated (Levels 3-6), with more female than male participants and a range of ethnicities represented. There was broad unanimity in the recognition of the importance of both teaching and learning and relationships with academic staff in defining quality. Overall, there were low levels of satisfaction with the amount of contact with academic staff and uncertainty about whether students thought they were getting a high quality education. Some differences in relation to support services were seen in different ethnic groups, and more males than females were satisfied with support services although this varied by year group, and student numbers were small. These results suggest the importance of clearly articulating what is available in terms of support (academic, pastoral, study and health) to all students. The teaching and learning experience, and relationships with academic staff are clearly important and given the uncertainty about overall perceptions of quality, these aspects need to be highlighted to students so that they understand the value of what they are receiving.Keywords: quality, perceptions, relationships, feedback, teaching & learning

scholarly journals Emergency Remote Teaching during COVID-19: A Comparison of Student Perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Fuchs ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Hybrid Learning ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Education Community ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The World

The pandemic has shaken up the higher education landscape around the world, with responses from institutions falling into three categories: retaining in-class teaching with social distancing, adopting hybrid models (blended learning, limiting the number of students on campus), or transitioning to fully online teaching. However, there is a significant difference between emergency remote teaching and a genuine shift to online/hybrid learning, with the key distinguishing term being “emergency.” In response to the global pandemic, the higher education community is now working on the continuous development of action plans in a quest to identify means to manage the crisis more efficiently. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the perceived performance of ERT from the perspective of undergraduate students. For that purpose, samples (n=332) were taken in two different geographical settings, i.e., Thailand and Sweden. Moreover, it is the objective to compare both samples and identify similarities and inadequacies which help stakeholders to manage ERT more efficiently in the future.

scholarly journals A New Method of Assessing the Effects of a Service-Learning Class on Engineering Undergraduate Students

2014 ◽  
pp. 29-47
Author(s):  
Patricia Maloney ◽  
Lauren Dent ◽  
Tanja Karp
Keyword(s):  
Service Learning ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Interpersonal Skills ◽  
State University ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Assessment Of Student Learning ◽  
Growth Assessment

Increases in engineering service learning courses and enrolled undergraduates necessitate further research and recommendations concerning the assessment of student learning and growth. Assessment of such growth may be difficult in service learning courses because of the types of skills it fosters: interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and other professional skills not easily tested for in a classroom. Some previous attempts at assessment were predominantly standards-based and designed to measure what researchers thought students should gain from the course, rather than being based in what students thought. In this paper, we first ask students what skills they learned in service learning, determine their thoughts about the usefulness of different kinds of assessment, and then use their words to construct a naturalistic assessment that can serve as a pre- and post-test to measure growth in engineering service learning courses. The data come from 96 students and three semesters of a service learning section of a large Introduction to Engineering course at a large state university. Overall, we conclude that students perceive that they have grown at statistically significant levels in communication skills, teamwork, leadership, time management, and other engineering skills noted below. We argue that student perceptions of growth matter for their persistence in engineering and resilience after professional or academic setbacks.

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