Education Commons^™

Development Of Sense Of Place Through An Urban Citizen Science Program, Cornelia Harris

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Citizen science programs are a way for participants to develop a sense of place, which has been theorized to lead to pro-environmental behaviors. In this mixed-methods study, I document how a citizen science program encourages urban youth to connect with their place, and notice how both joy and wonder are developed as they experience a stunning migratory event with a unique organism, the American eel. Students were excited to be in a creek and to ‘discover’ a new creature in a place that they had walked past for years, one that was merely a backdrop to their lives prior to …

An Exploration Into Public Health Experiences Of Rural Residents To Facilitate Understanding Of Chronic Poor Health Habits: A Phenomenological Study, Marybeth E. Mitcham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the public health education experiences of rural residents in one predominantly rural county. This county was identified by its pseudonym, Middlesex County, for the purposes of this paper. The research was done to identify causal factors contributing to the problem of non-compliance exhibited by many rural residents. The non-compliance has resulted in many of those residents choosing to not implement beneficial practices and information from public health education. The guiding behavioral theory for this study was Maslow’s behavioral theory of a hierarchy of needs. This theory describes the rationale behind …

Building Cultural Competency Among Emerging Public Health Professionals: Student Experiences In Panama, Matthew Fifolt, Meena Nabavi, Erika L. Austin, Lisa C. Mccormick

Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

One of the prerequisite skills of effective public health and health practitioners is cultural competency. Cultural competency, however, requires a deep and profound understanding of individuals who are shaped by different life experiences than one’s own. Previous authors have described study abroad and service-learning as established strategies for enhancing cultural competency among emerging health professionals. This article describes how students made meaning of an international study abroad experience in Panama through analysis of student-produced work including reflective journal entries, blog posts, and photo journaling.

In summer 2019, 13 undergraduate and graduate students participated in a four-week travel course to explore …

Quick Tips For Teaching Students How To Reflect, Jennifer Dobbs-Oates

Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

When you ask your students to reflect, do they know what you mean? Do you tell them “go deeper; give me more,” but see blank faces in response? This was my experience when I first began to use reflection-based assignments. It took me some time to realize that I couldn’t assume my students knew how to reflect in the way I meant. I needed to teach my students directly about the skill of reflection. Here, I share quick tips for helping students understand what reflection is, why we require it, and how to do it well.

Reflection Practices In Consulting Projects For The Learner And Instructor, Sophia Koustas, Christine Blais

Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education

Reflection practices in consulting projects are an integral part of both the instructor/coach and student learning journeys. Using reflection tools as an instructor/coach models behavior to encourage students to share what they observe, do, learn, and feel.

This roundtable will contribute to this year’s theme by using reflection as a tool for assessment, to promote program excellence, and to encourage student success. This session will encourage participants to share best reflection practices in consulting projects.