1. Previous Research/Literature.
Designing a Service-Learning Study Abroad Course to meet
Desired Outcomes for Students, Local Residents, and Nature
William Forbes
Sustainable Community Development Program, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas
Abstract
This poster presents a framework for designing a study abroad course that incorporates. service-learning, cultural interaction, and practice for students in integrated conservation and development. The proposed setting is in Nepal, although the framework can be used in other settings. Best practice frameworks are incorporated from the fields of education, community development, ecological restoration, and sustainable tourism. Monitoring to assess results in all areas is addressed
Previous Research/Literature
Objectives
Discussion
Study Abroad - Lemmons (2013) critiqued the limited cultural interaction occurring on short-term study abroad courses, based on the use of Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) to gauge cultural competence gained. A Kruskal Wallis test was also used. Students tended to spend more time in groups of their own culture and less time interacting with locals. International service-learning is experienced more on students’ church mission trips.
Community development - Hustedde (2009) suggests community development needs to be more site-specific, respond to local needs, and avoid “one size fits all” approaches. Dowie (2009) indicates conservation (protected) areas in developing nations need to be more sensitive to local populations and their livelihoods.
Ecological restoration - Egan et al. (2012) and Forbes et al. (2008) indicate the high value of involving local citizens in restoration. Ecological restoration is often shown to benefit participant appreciation of nature. However, success in restoring habitat could be more closely monitored before and after projects to more accurately gauge success.
Ecotourism - Honey (2008) notes that sustainable tourism should benefit local entrepreneurs and nature, not just urban and foreign tour operators.
Address critiques in four areas while designing a study abroad course in sustainable community development;
Build before and after monitoring into the course activities to gauge success.
The proposed setting is in agricultural villages adjoining a national park. Locals have received aid related to the April 2015 earthquake in the form of shelter, water, and sanitation facilities. They are returning to agricultural work. They have not received benefits from living next to the park. Meetings in March 2016 suggested they would like to consider bicycle tourism/homestays and other rural development alternatives.
Students would benefit from practice in sustainable community development and entrepreneurship.
Continued visits could monitor effects from baseline conditions over a longer period.
The project fits well within the mission of the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP), a local NGO with contacts in the villages. Heifer International, a global NGO, is also active in the villages.
Methods
Address critiques early in design process and include in IRB application for further critique;
2) Utilize homestays to separate students and “force” more cultural interaction;
3) Plan for early basic labor service-learning (ex: painting school walls) to engage students with locals;
4) Have individual or paired students teach lessons to school children for further engagement;
5) Work through local NGO with existing contacts and experience training locals for homestays, ecotourism;
6) Utilize IDI survey before, during, and after course;
7) Plan for bicycle tourism but brainstorm new projects;
8)Design restoration to benefit locals (ex: rain garden/groundwater recharge), pre and post monitoring;
9) Examine options for entrepreneurship (ex: running bike tours)
10) Work with native rural development specialists to conduct baseline survey for monitoring upon return
Citations
Dowie, M Conservation Refugees. MIT Press.
Egan, D, E. E. Hjerpe, J. Abrams Human Dimensions of Ecological Restoration. Island Press.
Forbes, W., M. Forbes, K. Stevens, K. L. Dickson, S. Solis An Evaluation of Engaging Volunteers to Restore Bottomland Forest (North Texas). Ecological Restoration, 26 (1):
Honey, M Ecotourism and Sustainable Development. Island Press.
Hustedde, R Seven Theories for Seven Community Developers. R. Phillips and R. Pittman (ed.), Introduction to Community Development, Routledge Press.
Lemmon, K Short-term Study Abroad Programs: Where They Came From, How They Work, And Why They Often Don’t. Ph.D. Dissertation. Texas A&M.