Service-learning Initiative Research Articles

A service-learning initiative within a community-based small business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend previous scholarly writing on community service‐learning (SL) initiatives by looking beyond their use in the not‐for‐profit sector to their potential use in community‐based small businesses.Design/methodology/approach – A rationale for the appropriateness of using SL projects in small businesses is provided, and distinctions drawn between small business SL projects and student internships. A case study involving a strategic management project in a community‐based small business is presented.Findings – The findings support the usefulness of SL initiatives in small businesses. Benefits to the students include an enhanced understanding of course material, improved learning through the transparent information sharing and experience of the small business owner, increased confidence in strategic management skills, and greater appreciation of community, environmental, and ethical concerns. Benefits to the small business owner included receipt of customized, onsite...

Assessment of Service-Learning in the Deaf-Blind Community

The concurrent conditions of deafness and blindness present a set of unique needs within a community that highly values independence and autonomy. This project assesses the service-learning initiative in a post-secondary Interpreter Education Program (IEP) in which students learn via civic engagement with the Deaf-Blind community to employ concepts and skills acquired from coursework. In 2005, several years after implementing service-learning in the Interpreting for Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind course, the program assessed project efficacy through reflective journal analysis and stakeholder interviews. Results indicated dominant themes around Deaf-Blind consumer empowerment, personal attitudes, coping strategies, and application of experiences to specific topics addressed in class. Outcomes of this assessment are being used to revise the course so as to align objectives more closely with needs of students and community entities that serve persons who are Deaf-Blind.

Student and Community Outcomes in Service-Learning: Part 1—Student Perceptions

Service-learning has a long and distinguished history of providing valuable experiences to students across all academic levels. Professional disciplines are well situated to provide students with opportunities related to service-learning while also providing needed health care services to communities. This article and Part 2 on pages 516-518 of this issue describe a service-learning initiative implemented in a bachelor of science in nursing program. Part 1 details students' perceptions of outcomes realized from the program, and Part 2 describes community outcomes. The purposes of the program were to enhance students' skills in history-taking, blood pressure and heart rate assessment skills, and beginning counseling skills, as well as provide the university community with blood pressure screening and counseling in a convenient and accessible location. Data on students' perceptions were collected for each semester of the program and for 1 year after students' participation in the program. Students perceived gains in blood pressure and heart rate skill performance, beginning counseling skills, their understanding of tailored client action plans, and their professional commitment to the health of the community.