Community-oriented Service-Learning: A university experience for preventing cannabis abuse in vulnerable adolescents and young people


Abstract


Learning integrated into community action promotes a more active citizenry. More specifically, service-learning (S-L) embedded into higher education can represent a big challenge yet also an opportunity to involve the whole university community in social and community development. This paper addresses this teaching method by identifiying and reviewing the different components that define S-L, that is: civic engagement, social responsibility, civic education, partnership, and reflection. The ways in which S-L can be introduced into the curriculum are explained, through detailing experiences already carried out in the teaching of psychology. Current available data on its efficacy in university education are analyzed. The focus now turns to a university experience involving Community Psychology students across Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. During this experience, students on both programmes make their final-year projects to develop a prevention resource aimed at young people at high risk of problematic cannabis use. Ultimately, this program not only teaches students the principles of Community Psychology but also give them an opportunity to put them into practice.

 


DOI Code: 10.1285/i24212113v5i1p67

Keywords: Service-Learning, Higher Education, Community Psychology

References


Andrews, J. O., Bentley, G., Crawford, S., Pretlow, L., & Tingen, M. S. (2007). Using community-based participatory research to develop a culturally sensitive smoking cessation intervention with public housing neighborhoods. Ethnicity & Disease, 17(2), 331–337.

ANECA (2005). Libro Blanco. Título de Grado en Psicología. Madrid: Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación. Retrieved from http://www.aneca.es/var/media/150356/libroblanco_psicologia_def.pdf

Aramburuzabala, P., McIlrath, L., Opazo, H., Altenburger, R., De Bruyn, K., Grönlund, H., Maas, S., Mažeikiene, N., Meijs, L., Mesicek, R.H., Millican, J., Nortooma, A., Pessi, N.P., Preradovic, N.M., Stark, W., Tuytschaever, G., Vargas-Moniz, M., & Zani, B. (2016). Europe Engage-Developing a Culture of Civic Engagement through Service-Learning within Higher Education in Europe: Report Identifying best practices. Retrieved from https://europeengagedotorg.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/o2a2-full.pdf

Asghar, M., & Rowe, N. (2017). Reciprocity and critical reflection as the key to social justice in service learning: A case study. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 54(2), 117–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2016.1273788

Ash, S. L., & Clayton, P. H. (2009). Generating, Deepening, and Documenting Learning: The Power of Critical Reflection in Applied Learning. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 1(1), 25–48.

Batlle, R. (2013). El aprendizaje-servicio en España: el contagio de una revolución pedagógica necesaria. Madrid: PPC Editorial.

Bringle, R. G., & Clayton, P. H. (2012). Civic education through service-learning: What, how, and why? In L. McIlrath, A. Lyons, & R. Munck (Eds.), Higher education and civic engagement: Comparative perspectives (pp. 101–124). New York, NY: Palgrave.

Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (1999). Reflection in Service Learning: Making meaning of experience. Educational Horizons, 179–185.

Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (2002). Campus-Community Partnerships: The Terms of Engagement. Journal of Social Issues, 58(3), 503–516. https://doi.org/10.1111/1540-4560.00273

Bringle, R. G., Hatcher, J. A., & Clayton, P. H. (2006). The scholarship of civic engagement: Defining, documenting, and evaluating faculty work. To Improve the Academy, 25, 257–279.

Bringle, R. G., Reeb, R. N., Brown, M. A., & Ruiz, A. I. (2016). Service learning in psychology: Enhancing undergraduate education for the public good. Washington, DC: APA. https://doi.org/10.1037/14803-001

Bringle, R. G., Ruiz, A. I., Brown, M. A., & Reeb, R. N. (2016). Enhancing the Psychology Curriculum Through Service Learning. Psychology Learning & Teaching, 15(3), 294–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/1475725716659966

Bringle, R. G., & Steinberg, K. (2010). Educating for Informed Community Involvement. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46(3–4), 428–441. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-010-9340-y

Butin, D. W. (2003). Of What Use Is It? Multiple Conceptualizations of Service Learning Within Education. Teachers College Record, 105(9), 1674–1692.

Campbell, C. G., & Oswald, B. R. (2018). Promoting Critical Thinking Through Service Learning: A Home-Visiting Case Study. Teaching of Psychology, 45(2), 193–199.

Campos, M. A., & Chaverri, P. (2015). Aprendizaje en Servicio en la carrera de Psicología. In P. Chaverri Chaves (Ed.), El Aprendizaje en Servicio en ULACIT: conceptos, experiencias y retos. San José, C.R.: ULACIT, Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología. Retrieved from http://www.ulacit.ac.cr/files/archivos/VSE/Libro Aprendizaje en Servicio Version Digital.pdf

Celio, C. I., Durlak, J., & Dymnicki, A. (2011). A Meta-analysis of the Impact of Service-Learning on Students. Journal of Experiential Education, 34(2), 164–181. https://doi.org/10.5193/JEE34.2.164

Connor-Greene, P. A. (2002). Problem-based service learning: The evolution of a team project. Teaching of Psychology, 29(3), 193–197.

Conway, J. M., Amel, E. L., & Gerwien, D. P. (2009). Teaching and Learning in the Social Context: A Meta-Analysis of Service Learning’s Effects on Academic, Personal, Social, and Citizenship Outcomes. Teaching of Psychology, 36(4), 233–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/00986280903172969

Davidson, W. S., Jimenez, T. R., Onifade, E., & Hankins, S. S. (2010). Student Experiences of the Adolescent Diversion Project: A Community-Based Exemplar in the Pedagogy of Service-Learning. American Journal of Community Psychology, 46(3–4), 442–458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-010-9337-6

Deeley, S. J. (2016). El aprendizaje-servicio en educación superior: teoría, práctica y perspectiva crítica. Madrid: Narcea.

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2017). European drug report 2017: trends and developments. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

Froese, A. D., Vogts-Scribner, V., Ealey, S. E., & Fairchild, J. A. (2003). Service Data Institute: Bridging Research and Community Service. Teaching of Psychology, 30(4), 319–321.

Gubrium, A. C., Hill, A. L., & Flicker, S. (2014). A Situated Practice of Ethics for Participatory Visual and Digital Methods in Public Health Research and Practice: A Focus on Digital Storytelling. American Journal of Public Health, 104(9), 1606–1614. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301310

Hart, A., & Akhurst, J. (2017). Community-Based Learning and Critical Community Psychology Practice: Conducive and Corrosive Aspects. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2287

Hatcher, J. A., Bringle, R. G., & Muthiah, R. (2004). Designing Effective Reflection: What Matters to Service-Learning? Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 11(1), 38–46.

Kloos, B., Hill, J., Thomas, E., Wandersman, A., & Elias, M. (2012). Community psychology: Linking individuals and communities. Cengage Learning.

Lalueza, J. L., Sánchez-Busqués, S., & Padrós, M. (2016). Creando vínculos entre Universidad y Comunidad: el proyecto Shere Rom, una experiencia de aprendizaje servicio en la Facultad de Psicología de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. RIDAS. Revista Iberoamericana de Aprendizaje Servicio, 2, 33–69. https://doi.org/10.1344/RIDAS2016.2.3

Martínez, M. (Ed.). (2010). Aprendizaje servicio y responsabilidad social de las universidades. Barcelona: Octaedro.

McAdams, D. P. (2001). The psychology of life stories. Review of General Psychology, 5(2), 100-122.

Mc Menamin, R., Mc Grath, M., Cantillon, P., & Mac Farlane, A. (2014). Training socially responsive health care graduates: Is service learning an effective educational approach? Medical Teacher, 36(4), 291–307. https://doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2013.873118

McIlrath, L. (Coord), Aramburuzabala, P., Opazo, H., Tuytschaever, G., Stark, W., Preradovic, M., Meijs, L., Mažeikiene, N., Zani, B., Vargas-Moniz, M., Millican, J., Northmore, S, Altenburger, R., De Bruyn, K., Hopia, A, Pessi, A.B., Grönlund, H., & Maas, S. (2016). Europe Engage: Developing a culture of civic engagement through service-learning within higher education in Europe: Europe engage survey of civic engagement & service-learning activities within the partner universities. Retrieved from https://europeengagedotorg.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/report-euen-mcilrath-et-al4.pdf

Mertens, D. M. (2007). Transformative Paradigm: Mixed Methods and Social Justice. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1(3), 212–225. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689807302811

Mitchell, T. D. (2007). Critical Service-Learning as Social Justice Education: A Case Study of the Citizen Scholars Program. Equity & Excellence in Education, 40(2), 101–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/10665680701228797

Murray, M. (1999). The storied nature of health and illness. In M. Murray & K. Chamberlain (Eds.), Qualitative health psychology: Theories and methods. London, Sage.

Novak, J. M., Markey, V., & Allen, M. (2007). Evaluating Cognitive Outcomes of Service Learning in Higher Education: A Meta-Analysis. Communication Research Reports, 24(2), 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/08824090701304881

Peterson, J. J., Wardwell, C., Will, K., & Campana, K. L. (2014). Pursuing a Purpose: The Role of Career Exploration Courses and Service-Learning Internships in Recognizing and Developing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Teaching of Psychology, 41(4), 354–359. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628314549712

Prilleltensky, I. (2003). Understanding, Resisting, and Overcoming Oppression: Toward Psychopolitical Validity. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31(1–2), 195–201. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023043108210

Rappaport, J. (2000). Community narratives: Tales of terror and joy. American Journal of Community Psychology, 28(1), 1-24.

Saltmarsh, J., Giles, D. E., J., O’Meara, K., Sandmann, L., Ward, E., & Buglione, S. M. (2009). Community engagement and institutional culture in higher education: An investigation of faculty reward policies at engaged campuses. In B. E. Moely, S. H. Billig, & B. A. Holland (Eds.), Creating our identities in service-learning and community engagement; creating our identities in service-learning and community engagement (pp. 3–29). Charlotte, NC: IAP: Information Age Publishing.

Stark, W. (Coord), Aramburuzabala, P., McIlrath, L., Opazo, H., Altenburger, R., Grönlund, H., Maas, S., Mažeikiene, N., Meijs, L., Mikelic, N., Millican, J., Nortomaa, A., Tuytschaever, G., Vargas-Moniz, M., & Zani, B. (2016). Europe Engage-Developing a Culture of Civic Engagement through Service-Learning within Higher Education in Europe: Quality standards for service learning activities. Retrieved from https://europeengagedotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/1-quality-standarseefull1432.pdf

Stewart, T., & Wubbena, Z. C. (2015). A Systematic Review of Service-Learning in Medical Education: 1998-2012. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 27(2), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2015.1011647org/10.1080/10401334.2015.1011647

Strobbe, S., & Kurtz, E. (2012). Narratives for Recovery: Personal Stories in the ‘Big Book’ of Alcoholics Anonymous. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 7(1), 29–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/1556035X.2012.632320

Warren, J. L. (2012). Does Service-Learning Increase Student Learning?: A Meta-Analysis. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 18(2), 56–61.

Welch, M., & Billig, S. H. (Eds.). (2004). New Perspectives in Service-Learning: Research to Advance the Field. Connecticut: Information Age Pub.

Yorio, P. L., & Ye, F. (2012). A Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Service-Learning on the Social, Personal, and Cognitive Outcomes of Learning. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 11(1), 9–27. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2010.0072


Full Text: PDF

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 3.0 Italia License.