Service Learning At SWOSU

TYPICAL RECENT TYPES OF SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS AT SWOSU

Dr. Lisa Castle (Biology)—Plant Taxonomy

Students participated in the Blue Thumb Project by doing water samples and at-risk plant assessments for United Plant Savers.

Madeline Baugher (Computer Science)—Web Site Design

Students have designed web sites for community businesses and organizations, including the Thomas Stafford Air and Space Museum, Southwest Orthotic Lab, and Clinton Walk for Life.

Dr. Ann Russell (Education)—Diagnostic Practices in Teaching Reading

Students tutored remedial readers in fourteen visits in the public schools, reflecting on their experiences in lesson plans submitted to the professor.

Brandi Fowler (Allied Health Sciences)—Health Care Administration

Students have volunteered their services at a variety of sites—Weatherford Living Center, Weatherford Regional Hospital, Jim Thorpe Rehab at Integris Clinton, etc.

Judy Haught (Sayre Campus, English)—English Comp I

Students have volunteered their time at Hensley’s Nursing Home in Sayre. Interactions have stimulated the residents and taught the students marketable skills in oral and written communication.

Dr. Viki Craig (Language and Literature)--Young Adult Literature

English education majors and others have volunteered in pairs to help with an after-school program in ELL for K and Pre-K students at Burcham Elementary in Weatherford. They helped with second-language acquisition via immersion activities and saw the theories at work.

Dr. Mary Aspedon (Education)—Fundamentals of Curriculum Planning

This class participated with parents, community members, teachers, and school administrators to develop or evaluate a school’s curriculum plan and board policy on curriculum in schools throughout Western Oklahoma—Altus, Arapaho, Burns Flat-Dill City, Canute, Elk City, Clinton, etc. The students submitted a written summary of their activities, including a narrative of interviews with the constituencies of these schools.

Dr. Kelley Logan (Language and Literature)—Folklore

Students have helped with a reclamation project for the old TB Sanatorium Cemetery located on the VA Center grounds in Clinton. Eventually they will produce a searchable website for genealogists to consult about patients and staff at the Sanatorium.

Dr. Peter Grant (Biology)—Intro to Zoology

Students helped with the Deer Creek Conservation District Outdoor Classroom project for younger students, assisting in specimen collection and identification of organisms.

(This is a brief sampling of projects; many other professors and instructors have reported similar SL projects on our campus, including courses from areas other than the above—Technology, Art, Radiologic Technology, and Parks and Recreation Management, for example. )