Using Community Internships to Learn About Public School Communities
Mentor 1
Ben Trager
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
The community-based internship program at public higher education institution combines service learning, community study, internship, and reflection for an all-encompassing learning experience. This program allows undergraduate university students into public school districts in communities to help schoolchildren with math and reading. An important component of the internship program is to develop resolutions about community and personal perceptions. Through observing the environment of the classroom -interacting with teachers, students, and parents - and collaborating with peers, university students have observed how the school community impacts the elementary school students. First, they have learned that when school communities are smaller, it gives children a support system that they may not have otherwise. When the small class sizes are included with cultural events, children gain knowledge of their cultural backgrounds that they may not have otherwise had. Lastly, when people from outside of the community enter, it creates a cultural exchange between students, staff, and non-community members. As the internship continues, a greater sense of community will be established and the university students will gain more knowledge about the interaction between a school community and its surroundings.
Using Community Internships to Learn About Public School Communities
Union Wisconsin Room
The community-based internship program at public higher education institution combines service learning, community study, internship, and reflection for an all-encompassing learning experience. This program allows undergraduate university students into public school districts in communities to help schoolchildren with math and reading. An important component of the internship program is to develop resolutions about community and personal perceptions. Through observing the environment of the classroom -interacting with teachers, students, and parents - and collaborating with peers, university students have observed how the school community impacts the elementary school students. First, they have learned that when school communities are smaller, it gives children a support system that they may not have otherwise. When the small class sizes are included with cultural events, children gain knowledge of their cultural backgrounds that they may not have otherwise had. Lastly, when people from outside of the community enter, it creates a cultural exchange between students, staff, and non-community members. As the internship continues, a greater sense of community will be established and the university students will gain more knowledge about the interaction between a school community and its surroundings.
