Service Learning

Suzanne S. Prevost, RN, PhD

MTSU School of Nursing

What is Service Learning? (MTSU Definition)

A student centered teaching method that involves academic instruction in partnership with MTSU and the larger community.

The primary focus of service-learning is to enhance critical and reflective thinking and civic responsibility.

Service-learning programs involve students in organized community partnerships that address local needs while developing their academic skills and sense of civic responsibility and community.”

Service-Learning as a Pedagogy

• Unites the 3 goals of the MTSU Academic Master Plan: – enhancement of academic quality, – enhancement of student-centered learning, and

– development of community partnerships.

Service Learning

Teaching Serving

ReflectingLearning

Characteristics of Service Learning

• Academic objectives are achieved through community service

• Students reflect on their service and learning experiences through listening, reading, and writing

• It fosters the development of "intangibles“– Personal values, social awareness, self-confidence, social

responsibility, empathy and caring for others • It is based on a reciprocal relationship

– Service reinforces and strengthens the learning– Learning reinforces and strengthens the service.

• Credit is awarded for college-level learning, not for a requisite number of service hours.

Health Benefits• Several studies have documented health benefits of voluntary

service:• Heightened sense of well-being • Increased energy • Decreased insomnia • Reductions in pain • Cardiovascular health (reduction of blood pressure, improved

circulation, reduced coronary spasms) • Greater sense of relaxation • Speedier recovery from surgery• Source: Luks, A., & Payne, P. (1991). The Healing Power of

Doing Good. New York: Fawcett Columbine.

Service Learning vs. Community Service

• Community needs dictate the service being provided.• Service-learning uses community service as the

vehicle for attaining academic goals and objectives.• Service-learning fills a community need, by using it as

a foundation to examine ourselves, our society, and our future.

• It tracks specific pre-established learning objectives (as well as intangible objectives).

• Goal - to empower students and those being served.

Related Terms• Experiential Learning – aka EXL – learning

processes that take place outside the traditional classroom, using a learn-by-doing approach

• Desired Outcomes: – Experienced-based knowledge for work in the

discipline– Organizational & problem-solving skills– Interpersonal skills– Personal development as individuals

Related TermsActive Learning – situations where students

learn by doing, rather than sitting or listeningCooperative Learning – Students work in

groups to solve problems or complete projects

Problem-Based Learning – Teacher poses a real-world problem for student resolution. Students usually work in groups; teacher acts as a facilitator

Examples of Service Learning Initiatives at MTSU In English 3520 (Professional Writing) students

practice writing and designing skills by working with a variety of campus organizations. Students have created Flyers to advertise a Greenway cleanup Informational labels for Recycle Rutherford Brochures and web-design projects for

Center for Economic Education Tennessee Environmental Educator’s Association Solar Bike Race Team Departments of Nursing, Aerospace, English, and Biology.

Community Health and Obstetrics Nursing Students participate in organized health screenings & preventative health measures with underserved population, such as: – Screening programs for diabetes, depression, and

hypertension– “Healthy Eating – Healthy Snacks” at the Boys and Girls

Club– Blood pressure screenings and smoking cessation

programs at the Salvation Army & Room at the Inn Shelters– Scoliosis screenings in middle schools– Health Education Updates – for MTSU health services

bulletin boards

Social Work Practice Students

• Partnered with the South Maney Avenue Community

Development Coalition to develop: – An organizational assessment– A strategic plan for the organization

– A plan for dealing with changes being implemented

by the city.

Experimental Physical Science, PSCI 4030, students Spend 6 hrs in a classroom with a mentor/teacher Keep a reflective journal of the experience Observe 2 hrs of science teaching Provide 3 hours of teaching hands-on activities

2 hours team-teaching and 1 hour solo

Reflect on what they learned about teaching and what they learned about themselves

Health Care Issues & Trends (online elective – for RNs and generic nsg. students)

Related Course Objectives• Students will:• Use diverse resources to become informed and

politically active health care providers.

• Integrate ethical principles and respect for cultural differences as critical components of health care delivery.

Assignment:• To provide students with hands-on experience providing a

service, or furthering a cause, that is aligned with current healthcare issues and trends, as well as the student’s individual areas of interest.

• Each student will spend a minimum of 4 hrs providing volunteer community service to the agency or political campaign of their choice.

• A list of service options is provided by the instructor. • Students may select an agency from the list, OR select a similar

agency/campaign of their choice, with the instructor’s approval. • Students will meet with the agency contact person, at least one

week prior to the preferred start date, to negotiate mutually agreeable dates and times of service.

• After negotiating the plan for date(s), time, and location of service – students must email this information to the course instructor.

Organization & Location

Contact Person

Phone Activities/Needs

Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)

Susan Maguigan

904-6996 General office assistance, public healthassistance

Democratic Party of Rutherford County 410 New Salem Hwy

Mike Terry 898-1992 Various types of election campaign assistance

Domestic Violence Program826 Memorial Blvd

Robert Miller

896-2032 General office assistance, program assistance as requested by director

Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity

Beth Smith 890-5877  

Assistance with building or cleaning homes and yards for needy families – no construction experience is required www.rutherfordhabitat.org

Project HELP Debbie Bauder

898-2458 Medical assistance for children with disabilities, assisting with program in daily routine

Service Opportunity Suggestions – Partial List

Reflective Summary• Students write a formal report documenting their service

learning experience, including: • Name and location of the organization • A description of the issues this organization addresses, that

would be relevant, or of interest, to nurses• Dates and times that they worked with the organization• Who they worked with, including title/position, & phone or email

address• A description of the work they did for the organization• What they learned from the experience• How this will be relevant or useful in their nursing career• Recommendations regarding future student experiences with

this organization

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

Activity – Outpatient Clinic for Trauma & Burn Patients

My experience included wound dressings & assessments, patient teaching & evaluation, follow up, and assistance to the staff.

“This experience was a real eye opener for me. My usual job is caring for patients in the ICU. To see a patient, that at one point was nearly dead, walk in and be completely recovered is so rewarding. Although I’ve completed my assignment, I’m going back later this week. I had such a good time and learned so much; 4 hours wasn’t enough. Those of you that work in ICU will understand. It’s a beautiful thing when a patient makes a full recovery.”

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

• Activity - Christmas campaign to bring gifts to all children in the Davidson County foster care system.

• “I left this experience knowing that so many children would have something to smile about on Christmas Day. I have always had the desire to become a foster parent. This experience just enhanced that desire and has motivated be to become more involved with this organization. While it may be some time before I can actually take in a foster child, I’ve found many others ways to help and make a difference until then.”

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

Activity – Local Chapter of American Lung Association

Open Airways for Schools - an educational program for children age 8-11 with asthma; currently providing sessions to several private schools.

Fund raising - planning and procuring donations for a silent auction & then helped host the event; served on a committee to plan a Golf Scramble during May and will work the full event.

Political activism or advocacy – joined the listserv re: impending legislation on tobacco and clean air issues. Sending letters to legislators.

“I was aware of the ALA but did not have direct knowledge of what they do. I

feel empowered by participating in the advocacy programs and by helping raise funds. I’m making important contributions by helping teach asthma students and their peers.”

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

Activity - Chattanooga Cares AIDS Resource Center 4 hr volunteer training, then – became a Peer Educator and conducted

presentations; collected money for the Tree of Light which provides AIDS clients with holiday gifts; spent a day assisting with office work; helped plan a fundraising Gala and attended it.

“My uncle died of AIDS and I have always wanted to make a difference. HIV is an epidemic that is spreading silently and I want to educate the community about it. My top goal is to go to other countries and setup outreach clinics in areas such as Kenya and help decrease the number of deaths related to AIDS. I think this opportunity to volunteer with Chattanooga Cares will widen my horizons help me gain the knowledge I need to pursue my goal.”

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

Activity – Local United Way Affiliate Attended several meetings to help plan a Golf Tournament Fundraiser.

Contacted thirty previous gold and silver sponsors. This assignment took about 8 hours. It was exciting to get checks for $100 (gold sponsors) and $50 (silver sponsors) in the mail.

As a result of her success, was invited to serve on their board. “Students who choose to work with this agency will find it very

rewarding. The board members are very supportive and appreciative of the help. There is a great amount of work to be done and not enough workers to do the job. Tremendous impact can be made on the community when people unite for a cause. Hence the slogan: “Together it works for all of us.”

Excerpts – Student Activities & Reflections

Activity – Assisted a Republican Party candidate

“…This was a bit disheartening. Although his views aligned with mine and he was very adept at defending his views, I felt that Mr. lacked “people skills”. When people talked to him, he didn’t pay attention. To me, listening to the people is the job of a politician; because a politician has to be the voice of the people.”

“For Future Students - I would tell them that it is very exciting and interesting to volunteer during election season. It was educational and fun, I got to meet influential people and I was able to help the candidate I support. As college students we are not always able to give monetarily to campaigns, but we can volunteer some of our time to help show our support.”

Outcomes • Most students chose their own agencies vs. the recommended

agencies – which made it more meaningful to them• Most students worked more than the required 4 hrs. • Approx. 40% of the participants signed on as continuing or

permanent volunteers with their chosen agencies• Common Themes in their reflections – a greater appreciation for

the value of Community Service agencies, and greater empathy for the people served

• Though this was only 15% of the course grade, students found this assignment to be one of the most meaningful elements of the course.

• Service-learning holds up a mirror for us to see ourselves, a microscope for us to examine our society, and binoculars for us to see what lies ahead. – Source Unknown.

• "Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happened to him." Aldous Huxley