Building community through service learning

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IntroductionNeurons to Neighbors

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➧University of Colorado Denver a diverse urban campus

➧Human Development and Family Relations (BS, MS, PhD) Bilingual family science education Service Learning Experiential education Campus community

Literature ReviewNeurons to Neighbors

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➧62% of over 1,000 schools establish formal, campus-wide definition of service learning (Campus Coalition, 2016)

➧52% of schools designate courses with community-based learning➧Three characteristics of service learning (Felton & Clayton, 2011) Advance learning goals & community purposes Involve reciprocal collaboration: faculty/staff, students, community Include critical reflection & assessment processes to

produce/document meaningful learning

Research QuestionsNeurons to Neighbors

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➧How does experiential education in its different forms have an impact on the educational quality and experience of family science students?

➧How does the use of experiential education impact the learning environment and relationships between faculty and students?

➧How does culturally and globally conscious service learning impact students’ global perspective?

MethodsNeurons to Neighbors

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➧Sample: 9 students 1 male, 8 females Age: 21-27 years (mean=23 years) Ethnicity: 2 Asian-American, 4 Latina, 3 European-American

➧Qualitative research design: Semi-structured interviews in-person and via Zoom

videoconference➧Data analysis: Theme Analysis

ThemesNeurons to Neighbors

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➧Transactional vs. transformative education➧Impact on students’ relationships with instructors➧Impact of culturally responsive curriculum on students’

worldview

Transactional vs. transformativeNeurons to Neighbors

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➧“…When you have professors that are in the field with you modeling what it’s like, being there like a safety net, it really creates a unique relationship that motivates me to continue to push myself harder, continue to seek out opportunities, and to continue to take risks of putting myself out in the community in which maybe at first I may have been shy about.” Student 003

Student/instructor relationshipsNeurons to Neighbors

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➧“[Service learning] gives a better perspective to the student of why this professor is in the field, studying what they are studying and why they even care at all in the first place. By having these interactions with professors in the actual field, it gives relevance to what they’re doing…why they are so passionate about this.”

Student 004

Culturally responsive curriculumNeurons to Neighbors

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➧“…the desire to be bigger than myself and give back to the community, because HDFR has opened my eyes to what I can do realistically to serve the community that really does need people who are giving back, people who are willing and competent in finding solutions, particularly competent in issues that arise due to cultural differences…we can go about things from a listening perspective, really building on relationships and using strengths-based perspectives.” Student 005

Limitations/StrengthsNeurons to Neighbors

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➧Limitations: Small sample size Basic theme analysis Future studies: larger samples, in-depth qualitative analsis

➧Strengths: Ethnically diverse sample (reflective of student population) Collectivistic nature of program: safe space for discussion New area of research in family studies: bilingual education

Directions for further researchNeurons to Neighbors

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➧Bilingual family science education Work with Montclair State University (courses in Spanish)

➧Study abroad in conjunction with Spanish bilingual coursework➧Impact of bilingual service learning service learning/experiential

education on Spanish-speakers and non-Spanish speakers ➧How cultural heritage impacts bilingual service learning, and

vice versa

ReferencesNeurons to Neighbors

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➧Algan, Y., Cahuc, P., & Shleifer, A. (2013). Teaching practices and social capital. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 5(3), 189-210. doi: 10.1257/app.5.3.189

➧Campus Connect (2016). Revitalizing our democracy: Building on our assets. 2016 Annual Member Survey Executive Summary. Retrieved from https://kdp0l43vw6z2dlw631ififc5- wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/campus_compact_ executive_summary_2016_final3-2-1-2-1.pdf

➧Felton, P., & Clayton, P. H. (2011, Winter). Service learning. New Directions for Teaching nad Learning, 128, 75-84. doi: 10.1002/tl

FIN

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