E. Implication for Action
The goal of this research is to determine to what extent the service learning partnership with community-based
organizations and field experiences in urban schools shapes or changes attitudes and personal perceptions our candidates
hold about students with significant socio-economic, cultural, and cognitive differences. Because candidates promote
academic skills through research-based interventions and reflect on the effectiveness of these skills, their early attitudes
and perceptions about students will affect decisions about areas where future instruction should focus.
A pre-survey to assess candidate attitudes and perceptions toward students with differences is completed in a fall
course, and a post-survey will be completed at the conclusion of the spring course. Candidates will use the pre-survey to
self-identify changes in attitudes and perceptions in a written reflection or interview about the service learning and urban
field experience. Data will be analyzed to document emergent trends and implications for programmatic changes.
Section II: Outcomes and Methods
A. Learner/Participant Outcomes
Participants will learn how specific course content is integrated with urban field and service learning experiences
for candidates seeking initial certification at the secondary level. Specific course activities and assignments will be
described and initial research about our candidates’ responses to these activities and assignments will be shared.
Participants will also learn how a service learning agency and an urban school in our community have responded to our
“on-site” candidates.
B. Methods
We will design the session to include a PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of our program and the
theoretical context from which we are operating. The presentation will also include information from each professor
about specific activities and assignments in their courses. We will discuss initial research results on this process from both
our candidates and two community sites. We will answer questions and provide clarity as the participants request.
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Convention