Service Learning Commons^™

Community Members’ Perspectives On A Community-Engaged Process For Supporting Vibrant Greenspaces In Detroit, Alysha D. Matthews, Guilherme Hebling Costa, Karl Erickson, Karin A. Pfeiffer, Amber L. Pearson, Benjamin V. Dougherty

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Greenspaces provide several well-being (Dinnie et al., 2013) and psychosocial benefits (Addy et al., 2004). Community-engaged research affords community partners a voice in the project (Cushman et al., 2004). This study assessed Detroit community members’ perceived benefits of and suggestions for engaging with the community to support greenspaces. Through qualitative analysis, a three-step process for community-engaged planning was revealed. Findings highlight strategies that involve community members in this process to enhance community engagement and well-being.

Conversations In Isolation: A Mixed-Methods, Multi-Perspective Evaluation Of Extreme Electronic Service Learning During Covid-19, Lauren M. Dinour, Jennifer Y. Daclan

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Due to physical proximity constraints imposed by COVID-19, extreme electronic service learning (e-service-learning)—instruction and service offered completely online—allowed for the safe continuation of service-learning experiences. Using a combination of surveys and an autoethnographic approach, this study describes findings of an intergenerational extreme e-service-learning project from four perspectives: students, assisted living facility residents, community partner, and course instructor. Positive impacts were noted on personal, social, and learning contexts among each of the four perspectives.

The Heritage Conversation Partners Project: Virtual Cultural Heritage Exchange In An Anthropology Course, Michael J. Kimball, Karin L. Bates, Miranda Bermudez, Liner Emilce Solarte Chourio, Amanda Consol

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

We describe the structure, benefits, and challenges associated with a virtual cultural heritage exchange (VCHE) between undergraduate students in an applied anthropology class and a group of English language learners (ELL). Using qualitative data collection and analysis methods, the project aimed to teach anthropological methods and perspectives to the students while investigating three research questions: Will a VCHE (1) build social bonds and bridges, (2) improve English language acquisition, and (3) raise “heritage consciousness” (awareness and appreciation of, along with an associated sense of agency toward, cultural heritage) among participants? Results support the research questions and show the effectiveness of …

A New Approach To Self-Assessment Of Community Engagement: A Case Study Of Technological University Dublin, Emma O'Brien, Martina Brophy, Thomas M. Cooney

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Building upon existing international tools, the TEFCE (Towards a European Framework for Community Engagement of Higher Education) Toolbox for community engagement represents an innovative, robust, and holistic framework to support universities in reflecting upon their community engagement. Through a case study approach, this paper highlights the piloting of the TEFCE Toolbox at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Ireland. Through an inclusive and participatory methodology, the process facilitated the recognition of community engagement achievements and the identification of potential areas for improvement.

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …

In Memoriam - Nora Sabelli: Master Orchestrator Of Grant Programs And Mentor For Advancing The Interdisciplinary Learning Sciences Field, Eric Hamilton, Jeremy Roschelle, Roy Pea, Barbara Means, Louis Gomez, Kim Gomez, Nancy Butler Songer

Education Division Scholarship

On Friday, September 6, 2024, the learning sciences field lost a giant in Dr. Nora Sabelli, 87 years old, a personal mentor to many researchers and an inspiration to so many learning scientists and STEM leaders. Nora’s first professional career was as a computational chemist, and later she became a passionate leader in research for improving STEM education. Nora’s time as a senior program officer at the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Education and Human Resources (EHR) directorate was legendary; she was a force of nature who reshaped funding priorities for stronger science and a stronger connection of science to education …

Empowering Tech Professionals: Mentorship And Interview Preparation In The Face Of Industry Layoffs, Sakhi Aggrawal

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In recent years, the Information Technology (IT) industry has witnessed significant turmoil, marked by waves of mass layoffs that have left numerous skilled professionals grappling with job loss and uncertainty. The year 2023 alone saw over 250,000 tech workers in U.S.-based companies lose their livelihoods due to corporate restructuring, with renowned giants like Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta being forced to trim their workforce. This unsettling trend highligts a pressing need to support those affected and empower them to regain stability in their careers.

Against this backdrop, I, an experienced technical program manager and software engineer with a background at …

Civic Education For Civic Leadership: Renewing Faith In Democracy, Ryan V. Weaver

eJournal of Public Affairs

Civic education and civic leadership are at the forefront of renewing faith in democracy on our campuses and communities. There is an urgent need for higher education to return to its historical foundation to fulfill the mission of democracy by educating students for democratic citizenship (Harkavy, 2006). Effectively integrating curricular and co-curricular civic engagement involves a balanced approach that is “both political and non-political” (Ehrlich, 2000, p. vi) to guide students to identify core values, develop civic knowledge, and build civic leadership skills (Finley, 2011; Hurtado, 2019). Civic leadership is an integral student learning outcome embedded within civic engagement praxis, …

Reimagining The Faculty Role In Community Engagement, Nadine Dolby

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this Forum commentary, I discuss my experience as a faculty member starting a community-based nonprofit organization, Animal Advocates of Greater Lafayette. Since founding the organization in 2019, I have moved between the roles of faculty and organization president, finding ways to create new pedagogical spaces that lead to community-based social change. I suggest that establishing nonprofit organizations are one avenue for faculty community engagement to address social injustices and inequities

Making Sense Of The Borderlands: Short-Term Immersions And Communicating Upon Returning, Joseph B. Johnston

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Educational immersions provide opportunities for students to experience a lot in a short time. How do instructors aid students in processing and meaningfully reflecting on their experiences? I describe the development of an immersion—and an accompanying pre- and post-trip class—to sites along the U.S.–Mexico border. Then, I analyze student reflective writing assignments to see if and how the students were able to communicate their learning.

University Students Pilot A Community Survey At Ciclovia, Joseph Herzog, William Crawley, Erin A. King

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Social work students at a southeastern university piloted a community perception and attachment survey during a local Ciclovia event. Results indicated that a majority of participants held a generally positive view of the community (91%), while perceptions of specific aspects of the community and neighborhoods varied depending on individual items. Implications for use of students in community surveys are explored in addition to a presentation of the overall results of the survey.

Utility Of The Global Engagement Survey (Ges) To Quantitatively Evaluate A Unique Undergraduate Community-Based Global Learning Program, Mathew H. Gendle, Amanda Tapler

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this preliminary study, the Global Engagement Survey (GES) was used to assess developmental outcomes in undergraduate students enrolled in a multi-year community-based global learning program. Statistically significant growth was observed on the Civic Efficacy (CE) scale of the GES (p = 0.01). The GES appears to have significant utility in the quantitative assessment of undergraduate community-based global learning programs, even when small sample sizes and pretest ceiling effects exist.

Virtual Service Learning: An Exploration Into How Physical Therapy Students Make Meaning Of Professional Skill Development Online, Pamela Donlan, Ann Golub-Victor

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study explores the perceived effect of a virtual service-learning (SL) experience upon the development of professional skills among physical therapist students. A qualitative case study approach was used to analyze reflection papers through the lens of the constructivist learning theory. Data revealed that virtual SL strengthens communication, fosters adaptability, and cultivates leadership practices. Findings suggest that virtual SL may be less likely to enhance certain affective skills that are crucial to patient-centered care.

Reflections On A Faculty Learning Community In Service Learning, Catherine Stemmans Paterson

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This editorial focuses on a Faculty Learning Community in Service Learning at Indiana State University. The learning community was a result from a partnership between The Center for Community Engagement and the Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence.

Improving Students’ Mineral And Rock Identification Skills Through Service-Learning, Josphine Chaumba, Jeff Chaumba

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper reports on a service-learning component introduced in an upper-level undergraduate geology course. Students identified rock types used by a local countertop manufacturing company and made fliers describing their mode of formation. Students then completed a final rock identification exam. To assess the effect of participating in the service-learning on students’ rockidentification abilities, an Independent Samples t-test was used to compare scores of students that completed the course to those from previous semesters who did not participate in service-learning. Students who participated in service-learning achieved higher final rock identification exam test scores (M = 91.71, SD = 1.59) in …

Mapping Moral Development: A Case Study Of Service Learning In The Midwest, Daniel Casebeer, Jessica Mann

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study explores the relationship between service learning and moral development. During a phenomenographic examination of a service-learning project in the Midwest, researchers identified ways that participants conceived of justice. These conceptions were analyzed with a Neo- Kohlbergian approach to post-conventional moral thinking and mapped using social cartography. Findings indicate that immersion programs can provide participants with nominal opportunities for moral development and that there is a need for additional supports and future research on the longitudinal effects of service learning.

Exploring The Impact Of Community-Engaged Programs On Undergraduate Students’ Attitudes Toward Intellectual Disability, Jennifer L. Jones, Kami L. Gallus, Amber Manning-Ouellette

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Positive outcomes for students have motivated educators to identify effective strategies for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in people with intellectual disability (ID), a minoritized population often excluded from DEI efforts. The current study investigated undergraduate student attitudes toward ID and compared changes in attitudes following participation in one of two community-engaged programs alongside adults with ID. Findings indicate both programs were effective in changing all three components of students’ attitudes: affect, cognition, and behaviors.

Writing And Publishing Community-Engaged Scholarship: Advice For Junior Faculty On Promotion, Publishing, And Craft, John Forester, Anna Sims Bartel

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article offers research-based advice on how to write and publish community-engaged scholarship (CES), with special emphasis on success in career-building and academic publishing contexts. It further offers a snapshot of a program designed to build a faculty community of practice for advancing publication of CES. Publishing CES throws into stark relief the tensions between what’s accessible and valuable to communities and what’s recognizable and admirable to academics who hold power over community-engaged scholars’ careers.

Assessing Outcomes Of Service Learning: Student, Instructor, And Community Reflections, Emily Feuerherm, Kazuko Hiramatsu, Nathaniel S. Miller, Kenneth Williams

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study investigated the impact of service learning using quantitative and qualitative methods. Forty-one First Year Experience and capstone students completed the Civic Attitudes and Skills Questionnaire (CASQ) at the term’s beginning and end. Although the CASQ total and subscores did not differ, capstone students scored higher on CASQ measures, suggesting better civic attitudes and skills. Community partners completed an impact survey, reporting overall benefits. Instructors’ journals revealed benefits and challenges to implementing service learning.

Dissonance During International Service-Learning: “You Can’T Go Back To The Way You Were Before”, Diane Ceo-Difrancesco, Leah S. Dunn, Maggie Truitt

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study investigated pre-occupational therapy students’ descriptions of dissonance during a twoweek service-learning immersion program in Guatemala. Thirty-one students participated in studentled group reflections during two program iterations. Qualitative analysis of transcripts yielded three themes: context, experience, and outcome. The interconnectedness of all three themes illustrates the interdependence of intense, international service-learning experiences, critical reflection, and transformation. Findings suggest the impact of international service-learning experiences on student development.

Focusing On Faculty Reflection: How University Students Are Positioned In Service-Learning Courses, Meghan E. Barnes, Lucy Steele, Heather Coffey

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service-learning is often identified as a pedagogy to prepare undergraduates for life beyond college. However, research suggests service-learning courses rarely challenge learners to explore structural causes of inequity or engage in transformative action. This study explores how one college professor positioned students as they engaged in service-learning. Through document analysis of nine semesters of one course, researchers sought to understand how positioning of university students shapes the effectiveness of service-learning coursework with a justice orientation.

Learning With Maryland’S Immigrant Communities: Digital Storytelling As Community Engagement, Thania Muñoz Davaslioglu, Tania Lizarazo

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this article, we explore digital storytelling as a community-engaged pedagogy to create students’ immigration stories in Maryland as part of the project “Intercultural Tales: Learning with Maryland’s Immigrant Communities.” Stories highlight students’ lived experiences of immigration, language, and identity. By envisioning themselves and their classmates as community members, students and their stories challenge the assumption that the university is disconnected from local communities. In turn, this process of collaborative storytelling shapes teaching and learning as student-centered practices where it is possible to learn about immigration from inside and outside the classroom.

Motivation And Orientation: Faculty Perspectives On Development And Persistence In Service Learning And Community Engagement, F. Dan Richard, Becca Berkey, Heather M. Burk

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Quality service learning and community engagement (S-LCE) in higher education involves faculty and staff working alongside community members and students for mutual benefit. We investigate explanations, motivations, and intentions of faculty that contribute to the sustained commitment for S-LCE work. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews across two institutions of higher education. Results indicate that faculty rely on motives connected to student learning and community impact and that faculty approach S-LCE from a disciplinary or social change orientation.

Service Learning During A Global Pandemic: How And Why?, Kiesha Warren-Gordon, Angela Jackson-Brown

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This case study provides an overview as to how two faculty members co-taught an asynchronous online course with a service-learning component during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Within this paper, the authors recount the adjustments that were made in order to accommodate an online teaching modality while maintaining their commitment to service learning.

Dweck’S Mindset Theory As Context For Service Learning, Marion Eppler, Marsha Ironsmith

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Undergraduate students tutored elementary school children applying Dweck’s growth mindset model, while a concurrent class implemented an evaluation of the program. Tutors encouraged children to adopt a growth mindset while helping with homework, especially in mathematics. Research students designed and conducted pre- and post-interviews to assess children’s beliefs about mathematics achievement and growth mindset. We describe these complementary service-learning courses and offer recommendations for improving interventions and assessment in a service-learning context.

Engaging Undergraduates In Co-Curricular Community-Based Research: Strategies For Success, Monica Williams, Pamela B. Payne

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper uses a case study of a co-curricular community-based research (CbR) program for undergraduates at a regional comprehensive university to identify five strategies to success in implementing such a program: prior planning, appropriate projects, student ownership, program structure, and teaching students to find resources. We address the strengths and limitations of CbR programs, provide recommendations for community engagement through research, and address opportunities and challenges of CbR programs for involving students in their communities.

The Annual Physical Therapy Visit: Opportunities For Service Learning In Professional Education, Howell Tapley, Jeremy Houser, Tiffany Idlewine, John Kiesel, Douglas Stevens, Stasia Tapley

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The American Physical Therapy Association promotes the Annual Physical Therapy Visit. Similar to an older adult who may see his/her medical provider annually, it is recommended that the aging adult see a physical therapist who will perform screening tests for strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and gait. Early detection of physical decline in aging may result in referral for physical therapy, wellness programming, or medical care. Community members and students experience mutual benefits.

The Exhibit And Beyond: Attendees, Collaborating Organizations, And Decision Makers Responding To A Photovoice Project, Cara Dienno, Corey Martz, Lauren Collins, Mimiko Watanabe

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Photovoice aims to impact those who view photographs and stories in culminating exhibits. This multi-phase research project, completed in partnership with city government and community partners, explored photovoice impacts on exhibit attendees, collaborating organizations, and decision-makers. Results show increased levels of awareness, concern, and willingness to take action among exhibit attendees. Additionally, collaborating organizations and decision-makers saw the power of “thicker” public engagement processes, like photovoice, to provide useful data to aid decision-making.

Impact Of Service Learning On Personal, Social, And Academic Development Of Community Nutrition Students, Kritika Gupta, Blake Grove, Georgianna Mann

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Service learning connects theoretical knowledge to community settings. Reflective journals were used to document student service-learning experiences in a Community Nutrition course component. Reflective journal data obtained from students (n=137) during different semesters were analyzed qualitatively. The service-learning partners included Nutrition Education, Food Provision, and Local Food sites. Positive impacts were noted on personal, social, and academic development of students for all sites. Service-learning assignments can impart transferrable skills and enhance student development.

The High Cotton Project: A Community-Based Method For Serving The Urban Homeless, Timothy J. Elliott, David A. Driskill

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This article details the ways a series of architecture graduate classes partnered with a nonprofit youth sports organization and other community groups to design a shelter to accommodate those experiencing homelessness in Lubbock, Texas. The researchers use a case study approach to discuss how graduate students repeatedly engaged with the public for feedback on their designs and eventually created a design for a community-specific homeless shelter and treatment center. This article shares the project’s engagement methods, which included precedent studies, design charrettes, regular presentations to the public, meetings with stakeholders, and professional collaborations.