Breaking Barriers - Science Outreach Through Service learning Over Zoom

Abstract: Service-learning is a powerful means to enhance students’ academic and leadership skills, develop their interest in community engagement, and provide greater exposure to career opportunities (Esson et al., 2005). While those benefits are well documented, service-learning remains underrepresented in STEM (Esson et al., 2005). Why? Don’t we also want these benefits for our STEM students? Why is STEM slow to the Service Learning party? No time? Poor engagement options? Are my students interested? How do I even start?! I asked all of those questions and more. 10 years since I first added service learning to one of my chemistry courses, I’m still learning, still trying new things, and (thanks to the pandemic) discovering ways to do service learning that I never would have imagined. Those new ways include using service learning in a totally online (asynchronous) course and engaging with the community entirely over Zoom.

In this session you will:

Hear examples of how I’ve incorporated service learning into my chemistry courses
Learn strategies to add service learning to small and large (100+ students) classes
Discover ways to expand service learning options for STEM students
See the results of how service learning impacts chemistry students:
development of leadership and communication skills
increased interest in future community engagement
ability to explain complex scientific topics
renewed enthusiasm for service
vital preparation for professional school and workforce entry
Leave motivated to add service learning to one of your courses

Learning Outcomes

None listed