Speaker

Dr Jed Metzger
Professor
Nazareth College

Addressing Poverty and Inequality via an interdisciplinary short-term study abroad service-learning class during COVID-19

Abstract Narrative

“Short-Term study abroad, especially trips to the Global South, has been shown to be a high impact practice able to deliver on course objectives including deepening diversity understanding. This reflective roundtable conference proposal culls together “lessons learned” from teaching a service-learning course with embedded travel during the COVID-19 pandemic to Jamaica as well as presenting data of student learning based on the analysis of a pre/post trip instrument. Themes include how to maintain safety, promote group cohesion, the value of in-country partnerships, daily practices, and reflective writing approaches all with a critical lens of how to accomplish these factors for an interprofessional team with the mission of promoting the social development needs of a high-risk Jamaican community within the realities of global pandemic of COVID. Short-term study abroad is increasingly identified as a high impact practice (Cotton & Thompson 2017). Participation in short-term study abroad experiences has been found to increase cultural sensitivity for participants (Gilliland et. al. 2016). With the rising demand to educate students who are comfortable working from a global citizen perspective (Osiadacz 2018) it is imperative that higher education develop transformative learning pedagogy (Kaspar 2018). For instructors seeking to develop opportunities for their students to address global competencies, the classroom fails to compare to well-planned emersion in a host country. Well-planned immersion means that the trip is safe and is supported by reflective writing and discussion (Gilliland, et. al. 2016). Rising ethnocentric nationalism is best countered with real exposure, especially for students from the Global North, who face the daunting challenge of developing a world view while surrounded by western media and a constant barrage of advertising inviting them to constantly consume (Flynn, Goldsmith, & Pollitte 2016). Roundtable Aims & Objectives 1) Attendees will learn how to set up a course for an interdisciplinary faculty and student group who will travel successfully to address structural poverty and inequality. 2) Attendees will learn how to develop respectful and mutually beneficial international partnerships. 3) Attendees will learn the value of using pre and post experience measures to develop student experience and stay true to best practices for international service-learning and meet the social development needs of the host community. 4) Attendees will learn how to run safe, high-impact short-term study abroad during COVID-19. References Cotten, C. & Thompson, C. (2017) High-impact practices in social work education: A short- term study-abroad service-learning trip to Guatemala. Journal of Social Work Education 53:4, 622-636. Flynn, L., Goldsmith, R., & Pollitte, W. (2016). Materialism, Status Consumption, and Market Involved Consumers. Psychology & Marketing, 33(9), 761–776. Gilliland, I., Attridge, R.T., Attridge, R.L., Maize, D.F. & McNeill, J. (2016). Building cultural sensitivity and interprofessional collaboration through a study abroad experience. The Journal of Nursing Education, 55(1),45-48. Kaspar, M. (2018). Blended Learning as a Transformative Pedagogy for Equity. English Journal, 107(6), 54–60. Osiadacz, E.(2018). Global Citizenship. Brock Education: A Journal of Educational Research and Practice, v27 n2 p44-47 ”

Biography

Jed Metzger is Professor of Social Work and the current Beston chair for International scholarship at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, USA

Prof Samantha Sassone
Assistant Clinical Professor
Nazareth College

Theme 1I(RT): Addressing poverty and inequality via an interdisciplinary short-term study abroad service-learning class during COVID-19.

Dr Mark A. Primus
Assistant Professor
Nazareth College

Addressing poverty and inequality via an interdisciplinary short-term study abroad service-learning class during COVID-19.

Biography

Education: B.A. Sociology, Roberts Wesleyan College; M.S.W., Syracuse University; Ph.D., Syracuse University. Teaching and Research Interests: Fathering and child outcomes within a cultural context, parenting practices with a focus on Caribbean and African-American families.