Connected+knowing-Service+learning+in+action

Download a copy of this page ** Connected knowing: Service learning in action ** Lana Zinger, Associate Professor, Queensborough Community College, [lzinger@qcc.cuny.edu]

Isabella Lizzul, Associate Professor, Queensborough Community College [ilizzul@qcc.cuny.edu]

Alicia Sinclair, Associate Professor, Queensborough Community College [asinclair@qcc.cuny.edu]


 * Keywords**: Community college, food security, nutrition


 * Conference track**: Community engagement and student retention, access, and success


 * Format**: Poster presentation

Funded through a Department of Health and Human Services grant, this project allows health educators to provided a diverse community college with grocery store vouchers to purchase unfamiliar, healthy foods. Service learning is ideal for the field of health education because it allows student involvement in activities that address community health needs while developing their academic skills.
 * Summary**

Students were taken on an educational “tour” of a local supermarket and were shown how to grocery shop according to the recommended dietary guidelines. Students then engaged in service learning by going out into their own communities where they acted as health educators and taught community members the skills they recently learned. Through participation in this project, students reported success applying the knowledge and skills learned from one setting to another and a greater interest in class content and participation. By engaging in service learning, students also reported improved nutrition knowledge and overall confidence with the subject matter.

This poster session will describe the facilitators’ service learning experiences and provide examples of health-related service learning projects. Presenter will work with participants to brainstorm how faculty can adapt their curriculum and develop materials to link service learning to their existing coursework. The poster will include ways to create assignments and reflective writing and critical thinking activities that participants can use to link their service learning project to their course goals and the general education objectives.

American Association of Community Colleges. (2012). Horizons service learning project: Service learning. Retrieved from http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Resources/aaccprograms/horizons/Pages/default.aspx
 * References**


 * To access materials from this session please click on the file link(s) below:**

include component="comments" page="Connected knowing-Service learning in action" limit="50"