School to community: service learning in hospitaliy and tourism

Abstract

In the effort to augment hospitality and tourism education beyond classroom instruction and internships, the added instructional methodology of community service learning is suggested. Service learning is an instructional method where students learn and develop through active participation in organized experiences that meet actual needs, increasing their sense of social responsibility and citizenship. For the purposes of this paper, 60 hospitality and tourism students completed service learning activities in a variety of communities that were connected either to a course assignment or as an expectation of a student organization and excluded internships. Participants were able to address issues relative to value, satisfaction, and competencies obtained. This experience has proven to be successful in that it was unique and flexible and offered a variety of opportunities for students to learn from the community. Findings indicated the majority of the participants were mostly satisfied with their experiences and their preparation for future employability and civic duties.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Monk, Kimberly; Bourdeau, Jessica; Capra, Michele. 2007. School to community: service learning in hospitaliy and tourism. In: Burns, R.; Robinson, K., comps. Proceedings of the 2006 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 2006 April 9-11; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-14. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 523-531.