Chapter 8: Academic Service Learning: Community College Prenursing and Elementary Teacher Education Programs

This study examined the impact of academic service learning projects on 72 community college prenursing program biology students and preservice elementary education program physics students’ confidence in learning science and professional competency skills. We examined the relationships between the project typology and student survey responses and perceptions of project benefits for providers and recipients. Data were collected using a quantitative survey, qualitative reflections, and service-learning partner feedback. Students reported increased confidence in their ability to learn and apply course content knowledge, academic efficacy, and professional competency skills. Prenursing student tutors reported a higher percentage of positive responses in learning and in applying anatomy and physiology course material than prenursing students who presented information to community members in a health fair setting. The highest positive response percentages reported by preservice elementary education students, after teaching children physics in an after-school setting, were in the application of physics learning and collaborating with others as members of a team.