Intergenerational service-learning across levels and disciplines:"one size (does not) fit all".
Service-learning is increasingly becoming an avenue used in a variety of disciplines to provide students with real-life experience regarding aging and older adults. Developing and implementing meaningful service-learning experiences, however, requires consideration both of the discipline-specific content to be addressed, as well as the varied backgrounds (educational and personal) and levels (freshman to graduate) of the students who will be participating. Intergenerational service-learning is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Drawing on the experiences of intergenerational service-learning programs at three institutions (representing three disciplines-Gerontology, Nursing, and Occupational Therapy), this paper focuses on the discipline-specific challenges of building a quality intergenerational service-learning program, as well as the associated challenges of developing appropriate intergenerational service-learning experiences for a range of student levels with varied backgrounds.
Karasik
Rona J
RJ
Gerontology Program, Department of Community Studies, St. Cloud University, MN 56301-4498, USA. Karasik@stcloudstate.edu
Maddox
Margie
M
Wallingford
Minetta
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D017145:Models, Educational; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education*; D011287:Prejudice; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors