Service Learning Commons^™

Print3d, A Service-Learning Project For Improving Visually Impaired Accessibility Through Educational 3d Printing, Oscar R. Lozano

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Well-executed service-learning projects are a high-value educational element. However, these projects commonly focus on overused topics and unbalanced executions which can produce the opposite effect to that desired when working with groups of people with functional diversity. PRINT3D is a service-learning project aimed at improving accessibility for people with visual disabilities while helping primary and secondary school students learn basic engineering skills through 3D design and printing. Under the support of the European Erasmus+ Programme, this project brought together nongovernmental organizations, teacher professional development centers, business enterprises, and educational centers to collaborate for two school years. The project activities aimed …

Masculinities And Affective Equality; The Case Of Professional Caring, Niall Hanlon

Articles

Critical studies of men and masculinities [CSMM] aim to advance gender equality by critiquing and deconstructing male hegemony and hegemonic masculinities. Although the implicit value of gender equality is clear in CSMM generally, the conceptualization of equality is frequently vague, implied, and lacks conceptual definition. The problem is compounded in caring masculinities studies which additionally often lack engagement with critical feminist and other socio-political perspectives on caring. These shortcomings hide the complex interrelation of different dimensions to inequality as they intersect with multiple relational identities. Caring practices are also complex having distinct phases that engage different forms of labour within …

Effect Of Covid-19 Pandemic On Volunteerism And Fundraising Management Strategies In Nonprofits And Rebuilding Tactics Of Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Chicagoland And Northwest Indiana (Rmhc-Cni), Humza Wolf

Nonprofit and NGO Studies Student Projects

The financial sustainability of nonprofits depends highly on volunteerism and funding strategies which got impacted during Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic. This capstone study explores to what extent nonprofits got affected and evaluates the efforts of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) to improve the provision of support for underprivileged families of critically ill children. The continual efforts to overcome financial hurdles escalated in pandemic. Mixed method research design was used to collect, analyze, and triangulate both quantitative and qualitative research methods in this single study to understand the research problem. Interpretive approach encompassed the complexities of …

Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Project-Based Learning (Pbl) Education: A New Mexico Case Study For Equity And Inclusion, Kimberly A. Scheerer

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This research addresses how student participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project-based learning (PBL) education activities encourages underrepresented minority student achievement in STEM career field trajectories. Seven New Mexico high school counselors and 12 STEM organization personnel were interviewed during this study. Their responses represent the nuanced professional voices where New Mexico public education intersects with STEM student interest and cultural influence.

For students, STEM PBL can foster deep integration across educational disciplines and enhance STEM career trajectory interest and readiness. STEM education converged with PBL methodologies has the ability to leverage community support while broadening student networks. …

Staying Engaged While Staying Home?: Service-Learning, Writing, And Covid-19, Christopher Iverson

The SUNY Journal of the Scholarship of Engagement: JoSE

As an approach to writing instruction that has traditionally required students to engage in in-person community projects, service-learning has also traditionally involved risks. For example, students engaging in service-learning without proper support often do not approach community partners with the appropriate respect, and when university stakeholders fail to make clear what their side can offer in a partnership, they can leave community partners in the lurch when the semester ends and students finish their community-engaged coursework. These risks can be mitigated through education and reflection for instructors and students alike. The COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing social distancing orders, however, left …

High-Impact Learning Experiences And Post-Graduate Outcomes: Exploring The Influence On Employment, Continuing Education And Salary, Alison Handy Twang

The SUNY Journal of the Scholarship of Engagement: JoSE

With the cost of college on the rise, and students increasingly viewing college as a pathway to a successful career, colleges and universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate evidence of their effectiveness. High-impact learning experiences, such as internships, study abroad, service-learning, capstones and undergraduate research, have emerged as a promising practice to enhance student development during college; however, few studies have examined the impact of such practices on post-graduate indicators of success. This paper adds to our understanding of the benefits of high-impact learning by examining their influence on student post-graduate employment, continuing education and starting salary. The data …

Exploring The Impact Of The Habitat For Humanity Home-Building Process On Partner Families' Holistic Well-Being, Hawkley Pusey, Nikhil Mathur, Kathryn Figliomeni, Nanditha Srinivasan, Keely R. Dehn, Jason A. Ware

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how participating in the Habitat for Humanity house-building process influenced participants’ purpose well-being, social well-being, community well-being, physical and mental well-being, and financial well-being, and how effective Habitat for Humanity is in aiding neighborhood revitalization within the Greater Lafayette area. The research project resulted in a presentation of quantitative data and a testimonial video that highlighted the stories of families that had worked with Habitat for Humanity. Quantitative data was gathered through a survey that addressed respondents’ levels of satisfaction within the various categories of well-being mentioned above. Testimonial information was gathered …

Transitioning To Civilian Life, Walter A. Pineda

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Every military personnel will eventually leave the service for civilian life. Their success is largely attributed to preparation. In order to be prepared a service member needs to be well informed about the services offered to them. My capstone project aims to provide service members with this information in a clear and concise manner. Utilizing research and military experience I will compile a booklet that will allow transitioning service members to be better informed. A survey will be used to obtain quantifiable data to better understand the capstones impact on my intended audience.

The Simplicity Of Connecting With Our Children, Mindy M. Salcido

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Connecting with our children is something that many parents struggle with but often overthink. It is often through being purposeful and present that we create times to connect. To help parents and children find fun ways to connect, I wrote a book showing a mom and son doing everyday activities together. In addition to completing a reading of this book to local families in my community, I also created a brochure that provided a list of activities as well as some of the benefits of connecting with our children. At the completion of the reading event, we had a Q …

Helping Animals Find Their Forever Homes, Madison P. Wilmot

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Animals in shelters and foster care face unique challenges. The goal of this project is to come up with a creative solution to the major problems the animals face. The main problems the shelters are facing are overpopulation and negative environments. The foster care takers are struggling with a lack of resources, which is anything from education to connecting to other foster care takers. After researching the main problems, the best solution was creating a website that provides solutions and can be accessed at any time.

Improving Access To Community Health Resources, Raheem D. Mohamed

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project included a collaborative effort between myself, community members, and local organizations to improve the accessibility of community health resources and health outcomes of community members. My approach included creating an accessible website in different languages to hold up-to-date community health resources and essential details regarding access. These resources can fall into the social determinants of health categories such as economic stability, education access, health care access, neighborhood and built environment social, and community context. This project was important in helping to prevent poor health outcomes, such as community members getting diagnosed with preventative chronic diseases, which can …

Childcare Center Communication, Nicholas A. Meyerhoeffer

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

For my capstone project, I worked with the College of Southern Idaho Early Learning Center to identify their teacher and parent communication needs and then researched and reviewed communication platforms to implement a new application that allows parents and the daycare to chart the progress of their children. And it allows parents to stay in contact with their children’s caregivers/teachers throughout the day. This helps parents be able to know what their children are doing while they are at work or school. I was also able to volunteer and help at the daycare in order to identify their needs regarding …

Connecting Homeschool Families With Information And Resources, Sara M. Szczesiul

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This capstone project focused on identifying a need in the community for information on options and resources for home education in Idaho to be made transparent and accessible to the public, to assist families who may be considering home education as an option for their children. Employing an action approach, I created a website by which the community may access information on the various home education options available in Idaho, the laws and regulations that govern home education in the state, and some of the resources that are available to aid in the home education process.

How Can We Help Physical Child Abuse, Yosepp M. Terry

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

The objective of this capstone project is to educate the community and school staff on how we can help child abuse. Child abuse refers to psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and any form of neglect by a caregiver. It concerns behavior by a parent or carer that causes harm to a young person. My dissertation addresses the topic of child abuse, considering the various forms in which it exists, and the causes and effects associated with it. It also highlights various aspects of the topic on assignments and general overviews. The subject is considered one of the challenges facing …

A Paramedic’S Field Guide To Community Hospice, Destiny D. Rogers

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

A capstone project focused on integrating hospice care with paramedicine through an existing emergency response system (EMS). This project aimed to serve as a training “field guide” for paramedics interested in supplementing hospice care needs within their community. The guide includes the variety of ways in which paramedic skills could assist with a hospice patient and their family, including patient assessment, pain relief, emotional support, and other comfort measures common in hospice care. The guide was submitted to my local EMS agency in Yolo County, CA with the intent of adding it to local paramedic scope protocols pending approval by …

Asphalt Supply System Training, Terry B. Hubler

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This BAS capstone project focuses on a professional action for my employer. This paper addresses the leadership and development of a team to provide training regarding our enterprise resource planning program, transportation program, and internal requirements. This paper will cover the different leadership styles and approaches in developing, training, and implementing each requirement.

Carrot Sticks: Addressing Food Waste, Alex Frank

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

This is a research paper. This paper details my findings and experiences while endeavoring to create a website (Carrot Sticks) that connects unwanted crops with people in need. The project was motivated by the increase in gardening awareness that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as some troubling statistics about food waste in America. This project took place over the course of six weeks in the Fall of 2022, and my outcomes and takeaways are contained herein.

The Power Of Positivity, Jennifer A. Oliver

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

My capstone project was writing a book for children between the ages of 8-10 years old that promotes positive thinking.

Bas/Ips Student Advisory Committee Internship Course, Serena C. Henry

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Throughout my time as a Multidisciplinary Studies student at Boise State University, I was encouraged to participate in multiple student leadership opportunities, all of which elevated my academic pursuits and positively impacted my educational experience. Through the relationships I’d established with faculty, I was invited to take the lead on a new student initiative for my final capstone project in the Interdisciplinary Professional Studies program.

I was responsible for developing a new Student Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) and Interdisciplinary Professional Studies (IPS) programs. The committee will serve as a focus group tasked with providing valuable …

Conflict, Technology, And Integrative Thinking: The Past And Future Of Geopolitical Conflict, Paul L. Johnson

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Conflict is constantly evolving, and it is evolving even faster now that the world finds itself in an age where information travels at the speed of light. Scholars of military doctrine and generational warfare are currently pondering the effects of cyber warfare on the already hectic and confusing fourth generation battlespace. Invariably, generals, pundits and politicians alike in countries across the world vie to acquire these “capabilities” for their benefit and the benefit of their nation. The last time a cutting-edge advance in kinetic weaponry was made in the form of the atomic bomb, hundreds of thousands of civilian lives …