Transcript Unsettling students’ learning

International community-based
work placements:
Psychology students’ experiences
Dr Jacqui Akhurst
(Ron Cooke International Scholar, 2012-3)
Internationalising?
From Service learning to Communitybased learning (CBL)
• The need for psychology students to understand the relevance of
their studies to societal and global issues in an increasingly
globalised world (Trapp & Akhurst, 2011)
• Work placements are undertaken by all students at YSJU
• Students would often like an international experience, but can’t
afford / don’t have the time for / are reluctant to go for, a longer
exchange period
• Programme to integrate CBL as part of the 2nd year Psychology of
Work module (all students undertake a 3-week work experience and
reflect on it in the light of the theories they have studied). Topics:
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Leadership,
Teamwork / groupwork / conflicts,
Motivation,
Stress and coping,
The recruitment process,
Personal development
Community-based work placement
• Eight groups of students have accompanied me to
international destinations from 2008-12: the Gulf Coast
of Southern Mississippi (13), Tanzania (20) and to
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (24) - 57 students in all!
• Central role of critical reflection
• Linking citizenship and HE through experiential learning
2010
2012
Student Reflections:
Preconceptions of students and hosts before CBL, for example:
• Before going to Africa, I had classic stereotypical views … I expected
to see lions on the roadside and there to be quite negative attitudes
towards myself and my fellow students ... I could not have been
more wrong. … It was wonderful to be accepted into these people’s
lives … which for their culture was the norm yet for me was
humbling.
• Some of the people we met had preconceptions about white British
people ... when they realised that there was going to be a mutual
respect they opened up to us.
… Deepened cross cultural awareness
• … Observing the culture in Africa was fantastic for putting the
theories learnt through studying psychology into real life situations.
• … [what]most surprised me was how much the people of Africa think
about others and improving things not only for themselves but for
people in the future.
They particularly noted comparisons in living standards and
resources:
• … it showed me how as a country and a society we take a lot of
things for granted, and on a personal level it made me realise just
how lucky I am…
• What most surprised me was how happy the Tanzanian people were
with their lives. Although they never had much I never once heard
anyone complain about their living conditions or health.
…Learning generally and about
themselves
Numerous examples, e.g.:
• I … learned how lucky I am to have had such a good style of life
in England. I also found myself to be more capable than I
thought I was and when presented with problems or issues
• I grew as a person and have higher … values in life due to my
experience
• this proved that I can overcome other obstacles in my life if I
just persevere and keep telling myself that I can do it
• We were thanked by all the staff involved in the project for all
of our work... However, I feel I gained a lot more from the
experience than what I gave.
… the emotional impact of their
experiences
• One main thing which distressed me was seeing ill people on
the side of the road ... Although I understood that there aren’t
enough medical services and people cannot afford them, I got
upset knowing that people were suffering and there was
nothing I could do to help.
• At times we were faced with some deeply emotional subjects
which only highlighted the fact that I am blessed to have what
I have in my life. My confidence also grew as a result it was
really challenging for me
• … you see adverts … about people living in poverty in 3rd world
countries … but until you physically see it, I don’t think anyone
could imagine … just how awful it is … my 3 weeks in Africa
were some of the best of my life, yet some of the most heart
breaking.
…Thoughts about education
Their experiences in educational settings are illustrated by:
• … how eager the children are to learn and how much effort they are
willing to put in to their school work from an early age. People in our
country take education for granted.
• … nothing can prepare you for how emotionally attached you get to
the children. Although upsetting at times hearing their stories it
never ceased to amaze me how happy the children were …
The specific challenge of HIV/Aids was noted:
• I think the biggest thing that was highlighted for me was just how
much HIV/Aids is a massive problem. I knew that there was this issue
but did not realise the scale of the issue. To be honest I did not know
what to expect but came back completely amazed by the country
and the people.
Impact on their thoughts about their
futures …
• helped me to confirm that after my degree I would like to work
in education.
• I had never once considered teaching, or … working with
children in any way, but this experience has changed that
opinion completely … I know the rewards that can be gained.
Some of the students noted how they hoped to assist others:
• I want to help make a difference.
• … my life has been changed for the better, for good. I just hope
that I have done the same for the people that I met …
Overall Reflections
• CBL enhances quality of students’ learning and engagement in
their subsequent studies
• CBL supports students’ desires to become involved in communities
/ volunteer, in ways that are more nuanced and respectful than
potentially patronising ‘charity’
• “If you’ve come to help me you’re wasting your time. But if you’ve come
because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together”
(Watson, in Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2005, p.27)
• The key importance of building PARTNERSHIPS with communitybased organisations, in ways that promote EQUALITY (cf.
knowledge, status and history of social arrangements) and
SUSTAINABILITY
• Students become aware of the role psychology might play in
addressing global issues, contributing to their psychological literacy
• A video made by a member of the 2011 UKZN group
• http://vimeo.com/26532290