The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37494

Beverly Tremain, BS, MA, PhD, Department of Health Science, Truman State University, Pershing Bldg 314C, Kirksville, MO 63501, 660 785 4407, btremain@truman.edu

Service learning in health education is necessary because (a) students need to understand early how health education is practiced in realistic settings; (b) students need to understand that work is full of ambiguity (i.e., not everything is easy to plan, implement, and evaluate); (c) students need to see the clients, customers, or patients who they will be serving, and (d) professors of undergraduate health education courses cannot expect to teach their students all they need to know. The service learning model provides collaboration between professor, student, and community agencies and creates a win-win situation for all concerned. Current literature in public health education indicates that different sectors need to learn how to work together to achieve health goals. Participants of this presentation will be given materials so they can follow the step-by-step procedures for creating a service-learning component in their health education class. In addition, the benefits and challenges unique to this assignment will be discussed. Handouts will include the forms and other materials used in the presenter's own service learning projects.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• define service learning and differentiate it from other terms, such as community service and volunteering.
• Use materials given in presentation to implement a service learning project in their program planning and evaluation course
• identify 5 agencies in their own communities appropriate for service learning projects
• understand the challenges and benefits of including service learning activities in the class curriculum

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Curricula

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.