Transformative Service-Learning Experience Through Participatory Project Management

• Main Author: Abenir, Mark Anthony Dayot
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: COVID-19 pandemic; participatory development; mixed methods; service-learning benefits; Civic and Community Engagement; Community-Based Learning; Development Studies; Service Learning
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/dev-stud-faculty-pubs/99; https://archium.ateneo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1089&context=dev-stud-faculty-pubs
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Studies have shown that for Service-Learning (SL) to be truly valuable and transformative, it must employ participatory project management practices and is ideally conducted in a face-to-face setting. This case study aims to highlight the strategies used to make SL projects long-term and participatory. It also measures the effectiveness of such approach in achieving a valuable and transformative SL experience for students and partner communities. Qualitative results show that students were able to develop desired personal, professional, and civic competencies. On the part of the partner communities, qualitative results reveal that they appreciate the year-long participatory SL engagement with the students that brought about high quality SL projects. Quantitative data, on the other hand, indicate that the paired samples t-test resulted in a moderate practical significant difference in the pre-and post-test scores of students when it came to their personal, professional, and civic mindedness skills. Finally, quantitative results indicate that partner communities reported that SL projects brought them a very favorable impact in terms of skills and competencies, motivation and commitments, personal growth and self-concept, and acquisition of knowledge.