International Service Learning in an Information Systems Course

1. International Service Learning in an Information Systems Course Winston Tellis Dolan School of Business Fairfield University

2. Introduction • Outline of course • Explanation of Ignatian Pedagogy • Service Learning (SL) • International SL

3. Ignatian Pedagogy • Developed by Ignatius of Loyola to train Jesuits • Pedagogy of teaching and learning • Works within any curricula • Leads learner away from utilitarian leanings, financial success • Leads to develop reasoned attitudes, concern for greater good rather than personal gain • Paradigm of experience, reflection, and action • Instructor accompanies learners as they encounter truth and explore deeper meaning

4. Ignatian Pedagogy • Loop: context, experience, reflection, action, evaluation • Context: instructor learns about the learner’s environment • Experience: get students to experience material with mind, heart, and will; bring it alive • Reflection: students assimilate facts; consider relationship to others, and topics; instructor pivotal • Action: proceeds from experience, reflection • Evaluation: assess well-rounded growth

5. Experience Evaluation Reflection Action 5

6. Ignatian Pedagogy • Leads to personal growth, concern for others, value-based judgments, less self-centered individuals • Instructor guides the students’ path through self-discovery

7. Service Learning • A natural way to implement Ignatian pedagogy • See Bringle-Hatcher definition and • Jesuit university definition • Both definitions engage the Academy in vigorous partnership searching for answers to social, civic, economic, moral problems • At Fairfield, we include many of the following in SL courses:

8. Understand that service learning is an accepted, rigorous, academic, and discipline-based pedagogy distinct from other traditional and experiential approaches to teaching and learning • Promote service-learning as an effective pedagogy for the enhancement of student learning • Value and promote education with diverse populations through service-learning and international-immersion programs • Foster an atmosphere of open discourse and careful, respectful listening where freedom of thought and expression are valued and protected • Encourage critical thinking about social, economic and political structures locally, nationally and internationally • Promote ethical behavior in instruction, service, assessment, and community-based research • Understand the community as our co-educator and an essential partner for effective and holistic student learning

9. Respect the integrity and wisdom of local communities and their abilities to develop solutions that address their needs • Seek input and guidance from our community partners as we strive to support their efforts and self-determination • Work with community partners who promote the dignity of each person, seek sustainable solutions, and protect and preserve natural resources • Engage in work that builds upon the respective assets and resources of Fairfield University and our community partners • Welcome all members of the University who desire to engage with and learn through service with the community • Recognize a special relationship with and responsibility to the Greater Bridgeport Area, as we seek to be a responsible institutional citizen and a caring neighbor

10. Design considerations • Select text (contemporary topics) • Select service location(s) • Visit locations prior semester, if possible • Examine suitability, safety • Communicate regularly to confirm arrangements • Explain transportation

11. Design of IS 350 • Select text (contemporary topics) • Select International service location • Visit locations prior semester if possible • Examine suitability, safety • Discuss potential service tasks • Communicate regularly to confirm arrangements • Develop (jointly) assignment description • Develop Final Report Format • Develop assignments for students not traveling • Estimate cost, apply for passport, immunizations

12. Design of IS 350 • Globalization major theme • China, India culture, economy, outsourcing • Nicaragua effects of globalization on culture, economy – emergence of sweatshops • Videos on cultural shift in India, call centers • Service in Managua, Nicaragua • Describe UCA • Describe FDL • Describe international projects

13. Managua • UCA Jesuit university partner • Founded in 1960, 5300 students • Involved in development of modern Nicaragua • Nitlapan research organization • Nitlapan founded FDL in 1997 • MFI now largest in Nicaragua • Serves poor artisans, vendors, farmers • Provides small loans, literacy, business classes • Innovative programs, transparent operations

14. The Service Projects • Domestic project 1 • Investigate the institution, residents’ demographics • Examine infrastructure at local residential recovery facility • Determine hardware, software needs • Determine location for PCs • Prepare report

15. The Service Projects • Domestic Service project 2 • Investigate IT needs of local health organization • Investigate demographics of clientele, organization’s funding • Identify procedural and operational deficiencies • Recommend alternatives • Prepare report

16. International Service Projects • International project Software Selection for FDL • Absorb the country’s environment • Investigate history of MFI, clients • Investigate selection methodology • Examine documents, vendor proposals • Rate vendor proposals • Submit report to FDL

17. International Service Projects • FDL Crafts project with Seattle University • Establish demographics, funds • Visit artisans, view location, resources • Study alternatives for packing, shipping • Prepare cost report for Seattle-Fairfield project • Share information with US team • Submit report

18. Preparing students for service • Learn to listen, respect • Observe cultural norms, ask about practices • Be prepared for projects to change • International requirements (passports, etc) • Behavior in another country • ‘reentry’ session for all

19. Reflection • Students learn to find quiet time to think • Write thoughts and reactions freely (private) • Travelers shared reflection nightly • All ask ‘why’ conditions prevail • How will they act to change conditions

20. Operational Issues • Transportation • Staff at site (s) • Safety • Communication

21. Assessment of outcome • Did they learn about the disadvantaged? • Did they seek reasons? • Are they likely to continue involvement? • Did they learn to listen? • Did they allow solutions to emerge from local people (subsidiarity)?

22. Student Learning Outcomes from Service-Learning Experiences Include: • Deeper understanding of course concepts • Exposure to related individual, institutional, and social issues • Increased civic awareness and engagement • Increased exposure to and enhanced appreciation for diversity • Awareness of social justice issues • Development of relationships in the community • Personal growth and broader worldview • Re-examination of career objectives (SL Outcomes, 2007)

23. Lessons Learned … • Trips to developing countries important for sense of globalization • Instructor should be experienced in country and site • Students should be culturally and topically prepared • Local transportation is a major issue • Include the cultural and ‘tourist’ side of country in the students’ exposure • Significant impact on students

25. Course-based, credit-bearing educational experience in which students (a) participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and (b) reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility” (Bringle and Hatcher, 1995)

26. Jesuit service learning embraces Ignatian pedagogy by the mutual enhancement of learning with service, justice, and related civic engagement activities. Through reflection, students recognize and expand their understanding of the challenges faced by people who are marginalized and oppressed. Respect for reciprocal relationships, through community partnerships, is central to the successful integration of academic learning and experience, and enlarges the worldviews of all involved. As a student’s intellectual and personal awareness develops, there is transformative spiritual and humanistic growth leading to continued action for the benefit of the common good