Collaborating Disciplines in Service-Learning Projects

1. Collaborating Disciplines in Service-Learning Projects Alice Crume, Ph.D. Department of Communication Studies and Lisa Beltz, Ph.D., Department of Biological Sciences Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, Ohio Abstract A public awareness campaign that brought the community together for networking and collaboration of resources, this session/poster explains the multidisciplinary course project which educated the community through speeches, posters, and a student written/acted play about a normally ignored health issue of great importance to this location, cystic fibrosis. Students Communication Studies (87) 75 Introduction to Communication Studies students peer-mentored by 12 Advanced Communication Studies students. Received an initial presentation about CF by the biologist. Interviewed Biology students. Prepared informational/persuasive poster about CF as visual aids to speeches. Delivered 3 oral presentations related to CF during the semester: an informational speech, a persuasive speech, and a play, “ A Life with Cystic Fibrosis” during the public event on Dec. 9. Took a CF Pretest prior to Dr. Beltz’s talk, CF Post-test immediately following her presentation, mid-semester Post-test, and Post-test 2 at the end of the semester. Discussion and Conclusions Impact on Student learning of CF information Pre-tests and two post-tests results indicated that while Biology nor Communications students had little knowledge of cystic fibrosis at the beginning of the semester, after research and presenting speeches on the topic, significant degree of impact about CF had occurred for both groups of students. (Pre-test: 35% & 22% correct responses, respectively and Post-Test 2 results of 84% & 80% correct responses . This met our goal of educating a large number of students, faculty, university members, and community residents about CF. Integration of Service Learning Material into University Course Communication Studies students met the goals of their class by delivering two major speeches on the topic of CF and, for the Advanced Speech students, by writing and presenting a play to the general public. CF was used as a disease model for Biology students during the course of the Structure and Function class, providing a consistent example of the importance of the correct functioning of various body structures. They also prepared educational posters currently being used in fund-raising events. Business students utilized the service-learning project as a real-life situation that aided the educational and promotional goals of the local volunteers of the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Success of the Final Presentation 129 persons registered for the final presentation, including patients, caregivers, and persons working in healthcare fields, plus members of the university community. Many audience members expressed appreciation for the project that exposed a large number of persons to knowledge about CF. The authors intended this project to serve as a template for future multidisciplinary courses that communicate disease concerns to the surrounding community in broad-based collaborations between universities, advocacy groups, patients, health professionals, and researchers. Facing the Unknown – Unexpected Results Most Communications Studies students had no prior experience in acting in public or writing a play. Interactions between project personnel and the community partner repeatedly shifted before and during the semester, forcing students and faculty members to adjust to each new circumstance. This had the unanticipated effect of preparing students to adapt to changes in carefully laid plans just as they will when entering the workforce environment.. Description of Presentation Three faculty members and 165 students from the Departments of Communication Studies, Biological Sciences, and Business Management of Kent State University at Tuscarawas participated in a community service project in Fall 2010. The goal of this project was to raise awareness and communicate information about cystic fibrosis (CF) to a large audience that included college students, local residents, and members of the CF community. Audience 2 persons living with CF, 20 caregivers, 6 medical personnel, 57 students, 10 faculty/staff, and 34 others Students The biology class focused on the effects of CF cells on organs through lecture, laboratory, and independent research. Biology students prepared informational posters for display during the final presentation. Communications Studies students prepared informational and persuasive speeches about CF for their courses and wrote and acted in a five-part play, “A Life with Cystic Fibrosis” that portrayed the challenges of Hope, a fictional character with CF, her daughter, and granddaughter, with a hopeful conclusion based upon the rapid advances in CF research and greater life spans of those living with this disease today as compared to 20-30 years ago. Business Management students publicized and organized the final presentation. Others The keynote speaker, Dr. Mitchell Drumm, is a prominent CF researcher from Case Western University who talked about the most recent research breakthroughs. The campus library was a hub of networking for caregivers as well as a central viewing area of the Biology students’ art posters. Biological Structure and Function (70) Received information concerning of CF on human anatomy and physiology incorporated into lectures (the role of DNA mutations, misfolding of CF protein chloride ion channel, chloride ions and mucus viscosity; effects of CF on respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems). Utilized Web-based sources to find answers for an extensive CF-related worksheet. Prepared informational posters about CF for display at the Dec. 9 public event Took a CF Pretest on the first day of class, a Mid-semester Post-test, and Post-test 2 at the semester’s end. Business Management (15) Integrated Business Policy and Strategic Management course students Before the event: designed promotional material for the public event, including leaflets and bookmarks. Contacted and distributed the promotional material to local civic organizations and churches. At the public event: assisted in the physical preparation of the registration tables, registered the attendees, directed the attendees to display tables and posters in the Library, assisted with refreshments, and assisted audience to the auditorium for the skit and guest speaker. Prepared a list of registered audience members and their contact information.