engleski

Community-based service-learning for first semester engineering students

Community-based service-learning refers to the practice of combining learning outcomes in formal education with community service. The goal thereby is to make the educational outcomes and their achieving valuable not just for the learner, but also for his community. Unfortunately, service-learning remains underrepresented in engineering education today, while its potential in this domain is exceptionally high. In this paper, the context and outcomes of a community-based service-learning project for first semester engineering students are described. The project was implemented within a Communication skills for engineers course where students could complete a part of the course requirements by preparing a simple project using mBot educational robots and micro:bit boards, organizing the presentation of the project in an elementary school, and delivering a workshop for the pupils. Students' motivation, learning outcomes, and satisfaction with the project were investigated in order to help developing similar projects and increase students’ voluntary participation. Research findings suggest that the project outcomes are beneficial for its stakeholders, and that the key motivators for students to take part in it are the importance of project results for others and practical work with technology.

community-based service-learning ; service-learning ; service-based learning ; engineering education ; communication skills for engineers

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