Experiencing Nature Through SL/CE in University 101
Abstract
Several courses at USC Upstate in Fall 2023 participated service-learning, in which our students volunteered with Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) to impact our local community and environmental health. Out of the seven sections of UNIV101: The Student in the University that implemented service-learning involving SPACE, there were a total of 103 students that participated. The goal was to remove three specific invasive species of plants threatening native fauna in the Chinquapin Greenway: Chinese Privott, Elaeagnus, and Multi-Flora Rose. While SPACE could have removed plants with chemicals, their organization only consists of three individuals leading to limited manpower to be diverted from other projects. This is where our students come in and make the perfect collaboration; helping a local nonprofit while also giving our students a unique service-learning experience integrated at the college level.
Research shows that students who participate in service-learning courses during their college experience feel more connected “with their classmates and instructors [and] have a great degree of intrinsic motivation in the course” (Fedesco, Cavin, & Henares, 2020). We found this to be true with our students and saw a renewed sense of community in the classroom thereafter. This is further reiterated in the following statement from Gracie Morrow, a student in U101: “The point in a service project is to help those around you or even just help beautify where you live. Although you are going into the service expecting to help someone or something, you come out helping yourself just as much. Take the time and do a good deed because I promise it will be worth it!”
Our poster presentation aims to share our pedagogical approach to service learning in a general education course and highlight best practices when incorporating initiatives like Engage Green in the classroom. The goal of service learning is that it would become a mindset and not stop at the initial encounter. We hope we have instilled a service mindset in our students who can go out and influence others.
References
Fedesco, H. N., Cavin, D., & Henares, R. (2020). Field-based Learning in Higher Education: Exploring the Benefits and Possibilities. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v20i1.24877
Keywords
SL/CE, SPACE, service-learning
Experiencing Nature Through SL/CE in University 101
CASB 102
Several courses at USC Upstate in Fall 2023 participated service-learning, in which our students volunteered with Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) to impact our local community and environmental health. Out of the seven sections of UNIV101: The Student in the University that implemented service-learning involving SPACE, there were a total of 103 students that participated. The goal was to remove three specific invasive species of plants threatening native fauna in the Chinquapin Greenway: Chinese Privott, Elaeagnus, and Multi-Flora Rose. While SPACE could have removed plants with chemicals, their organization only consists of three individuals leading to limited manpower to be diverted from other projects. This is where our students come in and make the perfect collaboration; helping a local nonprofit while also giving our students a unique service-learning experience integrated at the college level.
Research shows that students who participate in service-learning courses during their college experience feel more connected “with their classmates and instructors [and] have a great degree of intrinsic motivation in the course” (Fedesco, Cavin, & Henares, 2020). We found this to be true with our students and saw a renewed sense of community in the classroom thereafter. This is further reiterated in the following statement from Gracie Morrow, a student in U101: “The point in a service project is to help those around you or even just help beautify where you live. Although you are going into the service expecting to help someone or something, you come out helping yourself just as much. Take the time and do a good deed because I promise it will be worth it!”
Our poster presentation aims to share our pedagogical approach to service learning in a general education course and highlight best practices when incorporating initiatives like Engage Green in the classroom. The goal of service learning is that it would become a mindset and not stop at the initial encounter. We hope we have instilled a service mindset in our students who can go out and influence others.
References
Fedesco, H. N., Cavin, D., & Henares, R. (2020). Field-based Learning in Higher Education: Exploring the Benefits and Possibilities. Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.14434/josotl.v20i1.24877