Abstract
Background
Medical schools have a responsibility to support their students in developing an understanding of the complex concepts of a ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. To achieve this, service learning approaches have been increasingly successfully employed for students to learn through participating in activities addressing local community priorities. Sharing outcomes and lessons from such programmes is essential for advancing service learning. We present the evaluation of a new service learning module co-designed at Imperial College London with local schools and wider stakeholders.
Approach
Students partnered with local schoolteachers to design and implement inclusive science-based after-school sessions for secondary school pupils. The module aimed to foster critical reflection on social accountability, power and privilege whilst encouraging aspirations for higher education in school pupils.
Evaluation
Our evaluation draws on the perspectives of stakeholders in the first iteration of the module in 2021. Qualitative data were collected through university student reflections, presentations and debriefs (n = 20); semi-structured interviews with schoolteachers (n = 6); and questionnaires with wider stakeholders (n = 6). The evaluation revealed mutual benefits, as students reflected on their own societal roles, whilst considering the complexities of concepts such as inclusivity, power and privilege. Schoolteachers highlighted students' impact as inspiring role models for pupils, fostering aspirations for higher education.
Implications
This module provides a replicable framework for supporting students in developing their reflections on their role in our VUCA world whilst addressing the priorities identified by local schools. The evaluation highlighted the importance of working collaboratively with community stakeholders when embarking on service learning projects.
Medical schools have a responsibility to support their students in developing an understanding of the complex concepts of a ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world. To achieve this, service learning approaches have been increasingly successfully employed for students to learn through participating in activities addressing local community priorities. Sharing outcomes and lessons from such programmes is essential for advancing service learning. We present the evaluation of a new service learning module co-designed at Imperial College London with local schools and wider stakeholders.
Approach
Students partnered with local schoolteachers to design and implement inclusive science-based after-school sessions for secondary school pupils. The module aimed to foster critical reflection on social accountability, power and privilege whilst encouraging aspirations for higher education in school pupils.
Evaluation
Our evaluation draws on the perspectives of stakeholders in the first iteration of the module in 2021. Qualitative data were collected through university student reflections, presentations and debriefs (n = 20); semi-structured interviews with schoolteachers (n = 6); and questionnaires with wider stakeholders (n = 6). The evaluation revealed mutual benefits, as students reflected on their own societal roles, whilst considering the complexities of concepts such as inclusivity, power and privilege. Schoolteachers highlighted students' impact as inspiring role models for pupils, fostering aspirations for higher education.
Implications
This module provides a replicable framework for supporting students in developing their reflections on their role in our VUCA world whilst addressing the priorities identified by local schools. The evaluation highlighted the importance of working collaboratively with community stakeholders when embarking on service learning projects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e13609 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | The clinical teacher |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 9 Aug 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Aug 2023 |