service learning in chemistry: minors only? tammy jahnke, dean college of natural and applied...
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Service Learning in Chemistry: Minors only?
Tammy Jahnke, Dean
College of Natural and Applied Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Service Learning at Missouri State University
Courses were first offered in fall of 1997 after Faculty Senate Action approved the program
Chemistry first offered a course in fall of 1998, CHM300 is not tied to a specific chemistry course but to the curriculum in general. Students must be concurrently enrolled in organic, biochem, p-chem, quant, or environmental.
1 credit – 40 hours of community service
Department of Chemistry
Office of Citizenship and Service Learning (CASL)
http://www.missouristate.edu/casl/ Coordinates placements for all students. Works with faculty to find appropriate community
partners. Conducts orientation sessions each semester for
students. Facilitates long-term relationships with community
partners. Tracks and coordinates service-learning hours and
evaluations by community partner supervisors.
Department of Chemistry
Enrollment – Chemistry only# students completing service learning
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
# students
Department of Chemistry
Enrollment Facts 149 total students enrolled from 1998-
present 85% of students enrolled completed the
course 40% male/60% female Of those completing the course 11% were
chemistry majors, 78% were chemistry minors, 11% were other comprehensive majors (requires no minor)
Department of Chemistry
Syllabus and Course Expectations
Journal What did you do? Description of reactions and feelings about your
experience. An analysis of how you used your chemical (science)
knowledge or learned something in this experience. Interview with Course Instructor
After half of service learning hours are complete. A review of the journal also takes place at this
meeting.
Department of Chemistry
Syllabus and Course Expectations
Reflection Paper How did this experience help you (or not) see the role of
science in society? What is your definition of service learning? How might you and other chemistry students use your talents in
the community? Wrap-up Session
The entire group gathers to share. Where did they do their service and what did they learn? Was this a good community partner for a chemistry student? How might the course instructor or the Citizenship and Service
Learning Staff help to make this experience better for next semester?
Department of Chemistry
Syllabus and Course Expectations
Initial paper due within first two weeks (Define service learning. Explain why you enrolled in the course and your expectations for the course. Which community partner have you chosen and why? How do you plan to learn some chemistry in this course?)
This is a new assignment as of Spring of 2006.
Department of Chemistry
Community Partners Discovery Center of
Springfield – Hands-on Science Museum
Springfield Public Schools Area Hospice Organizations James River Basin
Partnership Area Hospitals The Kitchen Clinic Water Treatment Plants
AIDS Project of the Ozarks Big Brothers/Big Sisters Boys and Girls Club Humane Society Missouri Council of the
Blind American National Fish and
Wildlife Zooquarium
Department of Chemistry
Service Learning is not…
an internship and it is not job shadowing.
I now have a list of acceptable community partners listed in the syllabus. I require that it be clear that this is a community service.
Department of Chemistry
Service Learning is… an opportunity to use the skills you have acquired in
the classroom to provide service in the community. an opportunity for higher education students to
leave the classroom environment in order to apply their skills and knowledge towards every day situations.
a situation in which an individual or group of people work towards accomplishing a task that is beneficial to the community while receiving only knowledge as a payment.
Department of Chemistry
Motivation for Enrolling At Missouri State general chemistry
and a year of organic chemistry are 19 hours. A chemistry minor requires 20 hours. (nearly 80%)
Interest in the link of service to the discipline of chemistry. (10%)
Needs one hour of elective credit. (10%)
Department of Chemistry
Journal Themes Apprehension – This experience usually
takes the students out of their comfort zone. Amazement/Appreciation
Community needs. Knowledge of young people. Chemistry is everywhere!
New Found Respect for educators, health care workers, volunteers.
Department of Chemistry
Reflection Paper Themes Communication of science to the general
public and significance of that communication.
“Grocery Store Science” Helped with social and communication skills. I want to volunteer again. The community
needs me.
Department of Chemistry
Conclusions
“This service learning course made me fall back into love with science.”
“This experience is making me think about my career goals.”
Department of Chemistry
Future Work Code the journals and reflection papers to
record number of responses noted and look for trends.
Current assessments are all self-assessments.
Others on campus are looking more broadly at motivation factors and I would like to see how the chemistry students rank overall.