Application-Based Service Learning: Combining Undergraduate Research, Service Learning and Collaborative Learning in Upper Level Courses

Dr. Nancy J Trun
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
Duquesne University, PA
256 Mellon Hall
219 Bluff St
Pittsburgh PA 15219
Phone: 412-396-1853
E-Mail: trun@duq.edu


Dr. Gail E. Rowe
Professor of Biology
La Roche College, PA
E-Mail: Gail.Rowe@LaRoche.edu


Ms. Susan M Seibel
Instructor of Humanities and Social Sciences
Butler County Community College, PA
E-Mail: smseibel@zoominternet.net

The Application Based Service Learning (ABSL) model redefines undergraduate research as a coupling of novel research and service learning within the context of structured undergraduate courses. ABSL was developed as a way to incorporate service learning into biology laboratory courses at a Ph.D.-granting university while also providing a more effective and engaging method for teaching course content and laboratory skills. ABSL has also been used as a way to bring undergraduate research to a non-research college and to provide real-world experience to students in a media-writing English course at a community college. Assessment data indicate that ABSL increases students' understanding of and interest in novel research, enhances content retention, improves writing skills, and provides experience with the application of research to less abstract problems.

A major goal of ABSL is to teach students what research in their discipline is like by immersing them in novel research related to a little-studied problem while also providing them with direct experience with the problem through community service. While still learning theory and skills related to the course content, students are engaged in all facets of research including research design, trouble-shooting research methods, generation and analysis of data from novel research, formal research writing and oral presentations, all within a cohort of their peers. A second goal of the ABSL model is to foster collaborations, not only among students within the same class, but also by engaging many different courses and institutions. Through service learning, students encounter issues that have social, ethical and economic implications for their community as they gain insight into the practical application of novel research to the problem.