Service Learning (SL) Component of Brain & Behavior Fall 2000
Psyc 389 - 06
Students in Brain & Behavior are offered the opportunity to sign up for a one-credit course in service learning (Psych 389-06). Arrangements have been made with Touro Infirmary for student volunteers to work in the cerebrovascular accident (CBA) and acute head trauma units. Information will be provided to orient the volunteers to Touro and to Tulane's Service Learning program, and the students' experiences will be assessed throughout the semester. Incumbent in service learning is the concept that the participants will develop or practice skills and cultivate new knowledge as part of the learning process. The service to be performed will be meaningful to the service provider (student volunteer) and to the community being served.
Successful completion of the SL Component (or "what it takes to get an A") requires the following :
1. Attendance at a mandatory orientation meeting. :
Orientation for Tulane Service Learning and Touro Infirmary : Thursday, September 14 from 4 - 7 PM.
Meet at Service Learning Office, 1332 Audubon Street at 4 pm. Transportation will be provided to and from Touro Infirmary for that part of the orientation.
2. Spend at least 37 hours at Touro Infirmary during the semester (hours completed by Dec. 8, 2000).
Students will schedule blocks of time (approx. 2 hours per time block; 4 hours each week) for volunteering. Vans are available for transportation to and from Touro on M - F. The Touro staff encourages students to schedule their volunteer hours on the weekends, as well. Students may work in pairs, but each student will need to complete his or her own written assignments.
3.Writing assignments :
(i) Complete a journal that describes what the student saw and did at EACH volunteer session. Each journal entry may range from a single paragraph to 2-4 pages, and it should include the TIME and DATE of the visit.
(ii) Write a report based on the following : For each of two patients, write a summary of the patient's physical deficits, based on information obtained from the patients' medical and therapy records and the student's observations. The report should include speculation about the type of brain damage the patient has and should give a description of changes (improvements ?) over the course of the observation period. The paper also should include relevant material learned in Brain & Behavior.
4. Review of the Service Learning Experience :
(i) Meet informally with Dr. Wee and other course participants to discuss the SL experience.
(ii) Attend at least two "rap sessions" during the semester with Vincent Illustre from the Service Learning staff and Dr. Wee. The first rap session will be held in early Ocotober. The second one will be held around Thanksgiving.
(iii) Check your e-mail for messages from the Office of Service Learning and Dr. Wee that will provide feedback from Touro and other students, reminders of upcoming events, and answers to your questions.
Check out Tulane's Service Learning web page
Return to Brain & Behavior web page.
Page updated Sept. 1, 2000 by Beth Wee.