June 15, 2009
“I
had two misconceptions,” says Biology Professor Laura Schramm,
Ph.D. “I assumed Academic Service-Learning (AS-L) could only
be incorporated into social science courses and that it meant
working in soup kitchens and volunteering in homeless shelters. But
I was wrong. It ultimately means giving back to the community and
finding your own personal way to do so.”
Dr. Schramm recently incorporated AS-L into her curriculum after
discovering that out of 24 students in her fall semester Molecular
Cell Biology (MCB) course only one person had participated in an
AS-L course. In order to get students into the community and
blend classroom applications with real experiences she had to get
them involved.
The MCB students volunteered with St. John’s University’s Gear Up
program as well as the Chinese-American Planning Council
(CPC), an organization that provides Head Start and youth programs to
school-age children for families in need of aftercare services. The
students taught third- to fifth-graders and high school students
about the structure of cells and DNA and developed lesson plans,
quizzes and activities.
“They did an excellent job, I was so impressed,” says the Biology
Professor. “They discovered the importance of civic engagement,
academic challenge, time management, assessment, communication and
organizational skills as well as professional scientific
writing.”
Not Just Genes
These biology majors employed a creative twist in teaching small
children the mysteries of science. Whether it’s using licorice and
marshmallows to build the structure of DNA or showing them how DNA
can be isolated using a standard household product such as dish
soap. The St. John’s students combined theories from their science
course and related it to children at the Chinese Planning
Council.
Summing up her involvement in the AS-L project, junior Christine
Jarjies says that “this experience reminded me that science is
universal and regardless of your background it is relevant to all
people. I provided hope to the students who were interested in the
science or healthcare field. It was academically challenging not
only for us but also for the high school students we
helped.”
“The whole process has been a good experience and has allowed me to
grow as a person while I gain teaching experience,” says Sona
Augustine, a junior in the Biological Sciences department.
“Teaching biology to small kids who are unfamiliar with the subject
enhanced my communication skills. AS-L gave me the
opportunity to learn beyond the classroom.”
Dr. Schramm has high hopes for her students as they move forward in
their education and consider different avenues in their
professional career.
“I hope the students learned from this experience,” she explains.
“During my years of teaching, I’ve come across those students who
can take complex scientific topics and explain them in such basic
terms. You know they should be in front of a room—as
educators.”
VISA
Academic Service-Learning enhances the educational experience of
St. John’s students and is a major component of the University’s
2009-2013 Strategic Plan. It’s also a part of the Vincentian
Institute for Social Action (VISA), which was launched by the
University to more visibly embed St. John’s Catholic and Vincentian
mission into the educational experience of its students. VISA
provides an organizational focus for a variety of new and ongoing
programs through which faculty and students can work together to
explore the causes of and develop solutions for poverty and social
injustice throughout the world.