Service-Learning Newsletter | December 14, 2017
Service-Learning in Classes
In the summer of 2016, 小草影院 created the Center for Service-Learning. In doing so, it showed its support for a teaching method already employed by a number of Benedictine faculty.
Service-learning, which has been associated with increased student learning and the ability to invigorate local communities, challenges students to take a hands-on approach to their education, and offers professors additional means to make seemingly abstract academic concepts applicable to real life.
Below is a snapshot of some of the dynamic service-learning projects that took place through 小草影院 classes over the past year:
Art
Offered again in Spring 2017
Art majors in Professor Christa Kagin and Professor Bryan Park鈥檚 Junior Seminar shared their talents and growing set of skills through planning and teaching three weeks of Art classes at Atchison鈥檚 Central School.
Biology
New in Spring 2017
Dr. Mark Schramp鈥檚 Principles of Biology students taught a class at the Atchison Middle School relating to digestion, nutrition and health. They also took on an ecology project, helping the Sisters at Mount St. Scholastica plant and maintain their organic garden.
Business
Offered again in Fall 2017
The School of Business鈥� Enactus initiative, currently facilitated by Professor Brian Henry, shared their knowledge and skills by teaching entrepreneurship at the Atchison Boys and Girls Club, economics at local grade schools, and business skills at Lansing State Penitentiary. Among other projects, students in Enactus are also conducting product research that could benefit entrepreneurs in remote areas of Africa and South America who want to manufacture and sell alternative fuel sources in regions with limited access to firewood.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
New in Fall 2017
Students in Dr. Patrisha Bugayong鈥檚 Organic Chemistry I Lab had the option to demonstrate an organic chemistry lab to the Chemistry II dual-credit course at Atchison High School.
Economics
New in Fall 2017
Dr. David Harris鈥� Introduction to Econometrics class worked in small groups to gather relevant data sets and apply econometric analysis to information for local community partners. For example, students assisted Live Well Live Atchison in the administration of their annual Community Perceptions Survey. Other partners included the Boys and Girls Club, Project Atchison, Atchison Community Health Clinic, and Theatre Atchison.
Education
Offered again in Fall 2017
Education majors in Dr. Christi Adams and Professor Noel Rueb鈥檚 School as Community classes examined the social, cultural, and political dimensions of schools and classrooms. In the accompanying field experience, students spent fifty hours of service in the local community, allowing them to practice and critically reflect on the issues addressed in the class.
Engineering
New in Fall 2016/Spring 2017
Dr. Scott Newbolds and Dr. Pat O鈥橫alley鈥檚 Engineering for Human Development students designed and built greenhouses and a weather station for an impoverished community in the Andes Mountains, including an optional mission trip over spring break to Peru to build the facilities聽organized through the Catholic non-profit, Creatio, and Benedictine鈥檚 Ministry department.
Health, Wellness and Exercise Science
Offered again in Fall 2017
Students in Professor Mary Flynn鈥檚 Elementary Physical Education Curriculum course fill a local need by providing P.E. classes at Trinity Lutheran School.
Journalism and Mass Communication
New in Fall 2017
Dr. Kevin Page鈥檚 Mass Communications Senior Seminar class worked in teams to organize promotional projects for a variety of local community organizations including Live Well Live Atchison, the Boys & Girls Club, Theatre Atchison and Project Atchison. Students had the chance to add public relations, social media management, graphic design and marketing experience to their resume.
Math and Computer Science
Offered again in Spring and Fall 2017
In the Computer Science department, students enrolled in Dr. Don Bagert鈥檚 Software Engineering and the Senior Capstone developed digital solutions for the needs of real organizations in the community, including many non-profits. In recent years, projects have included developing a grave plot database for St. Patrick鈥檚 Cemetery and a website redesign for the Atchison Community Health Clinic.
Psychological Sciences
Offered again in Fall 2017
In Dr. Amy Posey鈥檚 Psychology Service Experience, students spend three or more hours a week serving in settings such as school counseling, home health and hospice, employment counseling, or a Head Start preschool. Through this, students make progress towards course objectives such as the ability to discuss community needs and systemic constraints faced by the service population.
Sociology and Criminology
New in Fall 2017
Students in Dr. Kevin Bryant鈥檚 course, Juvenile Delinquency, had the option of serving聽in settings that promote healthy communities and offer positive environments for youth, such as the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and Atchison Elementary.
Theology
New in Fall 2017
In Dr. Matthew Ramage鈥檚 Christianity and World Religions, students had the option to deepen their understanding of what the Vatican calls 鈥渋nter-religious dialogue of action鈥� by engaging in a service opportunity with or organized through members of a religion other than their own. Students this semester helped sort items at a food bank with the Rime Buddhist Center and cleared garden plots with refugees through Jewish Vocational Service.