Elon faculty, staff present at International Service-Learning Research Conference

Faculty from the School of Communications, School of Education and Psychology Department and staff from the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Center for Teaching and Learning recently presented research and participated at the 2016 International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Conference.

The annual conference, which is a scholarly venue to disseminate new knowledge on service-learning and community engagement, was held Sept. 26-28 in New Orleans.

Peter Felten, assistant provost and executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning and Center for Engaged Learning, presented as a co-author in a session titled “Re-envisioning the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in SLCE: Who, why, and how?” The authors shared a revisioning of scholarship for teaching and learning that foregrounds service-learning and community engagement’s commitment to all as co-learners, co-educators and co-inquirers.

Assistant Professor Heidi Hollingsworth and Associate Professor Mary Knight-McKenna from the School of Education presented their research titled “Teacher candidates build partnerships with diverse families through academic service-learning.” The study investigated the impact of academic service-learning on undergraduates’ knowledge, skills and dispositions for partnering with culturally and linguistically diverse families to promote young children’s early academic learning.

Frances Ward-Johnson, associate professor of communications; Alexa Darby, associate professor of psychology; and Tammy Cobb, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, presented their research titled “Community Impact of Curricular and Cocurricular Student Service,” in a poster session. The study identified strengths and weaknesses of curricular and cocurriculum service, revealing ways to strengthen partnerships and deal with challenges such as student preparation and innovative ways to utilize volunteers.

Bob Frigo, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, also attended the conference.

At IARSLCE, the focus of presentations, symposiums, and keynotes is on research incorporating a variety of theories, methodologies, and perspectives. The conference also serves as a gathering place for networking and association business meetings for members.