Service Learning Program Changes Perspectives and Impacts Professional Skills

The EARTH (Education and Resiliency Through Horticulture) program is a service learning, school gardening partnership between Iowa State University, (ISU), Ames Iowa and Gifft Hill School (GHS), St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Each semester, 2-4 ISU students spend 8-12 weeks at GHS teaching horticulture, environmental science, and culinary arts. In addition to semester-long internships, ISU students have participated in the EARTH program through a weeklong faculty lead study aboard course Educating Youth Through Horticulture (Hort 282). Students in Hort 282 prepare lesson plans and practice teaching youth including youth at GHS over spring break.

 Twenty-three undergraduate students, who participated with the EARTH program either as an intern or through Hort 282, were surveyed to record their beliefs on how the EARTH program has impacted their perceptions of sustainability and personal and professional skills. Twenty-one students responded (91% response rate) to the 27-question survey administered in March 2013.

 Ninety-five percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that they learned a lot about conserving resources. Almost 81% agreed or strongly agreed that they practice sustainability more often at home, and 85% agreed or strongly agreed that they look for ways to limit wasteful uses of resources like water. Some student comments include: “I have a better idea of conservation and how important resources are…”, “It has emphasized the meaning of ‘place-based’...That is something that I can apply to my personal life and profession…”

 The majority of students agreed or strongly agreed that they were challenged to: 1) use critical thinking skills to solve problems (99%), 2) work better with others (80%), and 3) learn more about teaching and educating youth (95%). All students agreed or strongly agreed that they developed new or expanded personal and professional capabilities. Several students commented that the EARTH program helped in “…solidifying where I could see myself in 5 to 10 years”. One student responded: “I am now getting a Masters in Education. This program is part of the reason I made that decision.” In addition, several students responded that the EARTH program experience helped them become “…more accepting of different values and cultures.” These results support student comments from exit interviews.

Overall, a study aboard and service learning experience like the EARTH program provides a valuable experiences that impact students’ perceptions of the world and provide them an opportunity to develop and practice personal and professional skills.