Hello!
During the Winter Semester of 1998, we offered a two-credit
service-learning course, Service-Learning and the Professions. The
course focused on linking the students' service with their future
professional goals. Students explored and discussed ethical issues and
social responsibility as they related to their professional
development and service. The class met monthly, but engaged in online
discussions. Reduced class meeting time left more time for direct
service and reflection. The culmination of the course, which was offered
to Juniors, was the development of a proposal for a Senior Service
Project.
While we are still in the process of analyzing the results of the course
evaluations and outcome measures, it appears as if the students liked the
online format IF sufficient time is also programmed for group discussions
on a face-to-face basis. Faculty perceived that the quality of the
discussions was high, but that there is potential to increase the
interaction among students. We would prefer to eventually use Netscape
Moderator to allow for a more lively online discussion format and
eventually include agencies in our course discussions.
One of the faculty members, Dr. Linda Gordon, and I will be offering a
roundtable discussion related to this topic at the NSEE meeting in
Virginia in October.
Madeline Penna
On Thu, 7 May 1998 kolibac@guvax.acc.georgetown.edu
wrote:
> Dear s-l folks,
>
> We've just completed an experiment in using email discussions as the basis
> of a required reflection process. We implemented the process with limited
> success, and while its fresh in the mind, wanted to see who has attempted
> this kind of work. We found that it took a great deal of time to
> facilitate the list and that the students (13 in all) tended to be
> descriptive but not very analytic, despite attempts to frame questions to
> the contrary.
>
> I know that some people are using email in s-l courses quite successfully.
> This effort was used for our service-learning credit program (we used to
> call it the "Fourth Credit Option". Can people share some of their
> experiences (second hands ones will do!) in this area?
>
> I'd hope that such a topic would be of interest to others.
>
> Warm and heartly regards,
>
> Chris Koliba, Georgetown U.
>
>
Madeline Haug Penna pennam@polaris.acast.nova.edu
Coordinator of Community Service Phone: 954-262-8093
Center for Undergraduate Studies Fax: 954-262-3924
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS WITH WE.
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