Impact of service-learning on personal, social, and academic development of Community Nutrition students

Authors

Keywords:

pedagogy, community nutrition, experiential learning, student development

Abstract

Service-learning connects theoretical knowledge to community settings. Reflective journals were used to document student service-learning experiences in a Community Nutrition course component. Reflective journal data obtained from students (n=137­) during different semesters were analyzed qualitatively. The service-learning partners included Nutrition Education, Food Provision, and Local Food sites. Positive impacts were noted on personal, social, as well as academic development of students for all sites. Service-learning assignments can impart transferrable skills and enhance student development.

Author Biographies

Kritika Gupta, University of Mississippi

Kritika Gupta is a Ph.D. student studying Nutrition at the University of Mississippi. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition and Dietetics from Punjab Agricultural University, India and with a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Lovely Professional University, India. Her current research emphasis is on child nutrition with focus on school feeding programs.

Blake Grove, University of Mississippi

Blake Grove graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of Minnesota-Mankato. He is currently a 2nd year graduate student at the University of Mississippi. He is set to graduate in the Spring of 2021 with a Master’s in Nutrition with an emphasis of Clinical Nutrition. Blake has a strong passion for community nutrition research and all things related to nutrition.

Georgianna Mann, The University of Mississippi

Dr. Georgianna Mann is an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management at the University of Mississippi. After completing her Masters of Science in Food Science and Technology, she also received her Doctorate of Philosophy at Virginia Tech after shifting to behavioral nutrition in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. Her current research is grounded in community nutrition.

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Published

12/02/2021

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Research and Theory

License

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