Northeastern University
Bouve College of Health Professions
Department of Physical Therapy
Service Learning
Course number: PTH1426
Instructor: Nancy Roberge, M.M., PT,
Course Objectives:
1. The student will "demonstrate social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy, including participation in community and human services organizations and activities." (APTA Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, 1999).
2. The student will conduct an accurate and thorough needs assessment for a specific target population to be served.
3. The student will develop and accomplish separate service (3) and educational (3) goals.
4. The student will identify and consider individual and cultural considerations in developing service interventions and activities.
5. The student will participate in all reflection seminars and identify both professional and personal growth.
Service Learning Project Guidelines:
A service learning project is recognized as a contribution, by an individual above and beyond their normal professional duties, to a target population identified as being in significant need of services. Target populations may include but are not limited to disadvantaged, under served, or multi cultural populations. The student must be able to determine their service as being either direct or indirect benefit to the target population. The student must also fulfill criteria for written and oral reflection presentations (criteria to be given at a later date). ALL service projects require the identification of an onsite supervisor. If the service learning project requires the student to utilize specific physical therapy skills, then onsite supervision by a licensed physical therapist is required.
Commitment Requirement:
The student will be required to provide documentation of a minimum of 15 direct contact hours of service to their selected site per quarter.
Methods of Evaluation
Service Learning summary 10%
Reflection journals 20%
Written Proposal 30%
Oral Presentation 10%
Commitment Requirement 30%
SERVICE-LEARNING
Proposal: Due 5/23
May be completed as a group with each group member submitting #4 individually.
The proposal must contain the following information.
1. Brief description of service project in 3 to 5 sentences.
2. Define the project objectives. How do they relate to mission of organization?
3. How does target population meet the service project criteria?
4. Describe why you chose this project and/or organization. How will this experience enhance or expand your individual/professional growth. NOTE: if a group completes the project, each member of the group must individually submit their response to this item.
5. Name of the agency and person who approved your project. Be sure to include address and telephone number.
6. Describe the type of supervision on site and who will supervise your project, or to whom you will be responsible while you complete your service project.
7. In a couple of sentences, briefly describe how you plane to meet project objectives and how you will recognize the outcomes of your project.
8. Will you incur any financial expense? If so, please give an estimate.
9. What will be the final outcome of your project? (Poster, Presentation, Brochure, etc.)
Oral Presentation:
will be given during the class of May 23 or 30 Individual presentations may be up to 10 minutes in length. Students participating in group projects will do a group presentation. All members of the group must participate in some way. Photographs and slides are encouraged for presentation.
Reflection Journals:
1. Date all entries
2. Entries must be made immediately (within 24 hrs) after leaving the site.
3. Questions for weekly reflections will be posted on the web site.
4. Journal entry to include:
A) Response to question
B) Aspect of project that went well
C) Aspect of project that needs to be modified
D) Goal for next week
5. Other issues that you want to discuss with the group or your advisor should be entered in your journal on an as needed basis.
Final Project Written Report:
Due end of Directed Study 2. Final written report should enhance the information provided in the proposal. This report must be typed and a
copy of the proposal should be included in an appendix. In addition, the following information should also be individually included:
Were the objectives of the project met? or did they have to be altered? Explain the outcomes of your project. What type of supervision did you receive? Was it adequate? What type of feedback did you receive? Did you have any particular challenges? How did you resolve it? What was your actual fiscal burden and how was it handled? How did this experience impact your growth personally? Professionally? Do you anticipate participating in community service as part of your professional growth and development after you graduate? If so, how has this experience affected that decision?
WRITTEN REPORTS MUST ALL BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY
Project Schedule:
4/11 Solidify service learning assignments, introduction to journals, Web site reading
Reflection journals: Personal Goals
4/18 Reflection of first week activities
Service learning assignment due AT SITE
Proposals Due
5/2 Proposals Due – Oral presentation of proposal
5/9 Rough drafts due
5/16 Oral presentations
Guest Speaker Kristen Simonelli
5/23 Site supervisor evals due
Review of journals
Group reflection
5/30 Schedule is tentative. Groups working with Professor Lowe will meet on Thursday from 8-9 in 311RB.
