Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share the research on the use of service-learning pedagogy as a strategy to promote engaged learning that positively impacts resilience. It purports that although often overlooked as a teaching and learning strategy, service-learning offers a viable method for supporting persistence and resiliency in largely minority population. Design/methodology/approach – The research utilizes data from both quantitative and qualitative measures (surveys/questionnaires and open ended responses collected from focus groups). The data were collected over 15 months from undergraduate students who represent 5 different content areas (nursing, public health, psychology, nutrition and physical education). Findings – The data revealed that students positively favor service-learning pedagogy and value the tenets of civic responsibility and social justice. These outcomes contribute to a positive impact on persistence and resiliency. Research limitations/implications – This research highlights the findings from a small group of students enrolled in a specialized program, therefore may lack generalizability. Future research should replicate the study on a larger scale. Practical implications – This paper includes both theoretical foundational knowledge and practical applications to support faculty teaching and learning. Additionally, it seeks to support and increase understanding of strategies that positively impact persistence and resilience constructs. Social implications – The social implications of this research reflect an understanding of the inherent needs of students from underrepresented and/or underserved populations. Originality/value – This paper fills a void in the literature at the higher education level, by offering specific strategies, which focus on methods to support resilience through increased student engagement, civic responsibility and critical thinking. Additionally, historically black colleges and universities are among the least empirically examined institutions in American higher education.

This paper will share the research on the use of social media (specifically Facebook) in an effort to promote critical thinking and reflection. It purports that although often overlooked as a teaching, learning and assessment strategy, social media is a viable method that supports cooperative learning through the encouragement of thoughtful responses and reflections. The research utilizes data from both quantitative and qualitative measures (surveys/questionnaires and open ended responses collected from the closed group Facebook page). The data were collected over nine months from undergraduate students who represented five different content areas (Nursing, Public Health, Psychology, Nutrition and Physical Education). The data revealed that students prefer and value the use of Facebook as a form of cooperative learning over other traditional methods of student course management (Blackboard). Additionally, it suggests that utilizing social media can be an engaging teaching, learning and assessment strategy. This research highlights the findings from a small group of students, therefore may lack generalizability. Future research should replicate the study on a larger scale. This paper includes both theoretical foundational knowledge and practical applications to support faculty teaching and learning which supports the literature by offering specific st strategies, that focus on methods to increase student engagement, critical thinking and 21 century technology.

In an ongoing effort to address the needs of 21st century teachers, a service-learning project was designed which coupled structured reflection and technology. The reflective practitioner model through the use of traditional methods course work has long been viewed as the most appropriate model for the development of teachers (Hall, 2012). However, deep reflection is difficult for most pre-service teachers, and is often viewed as assignments that need to be completed in order to successfully complete a course, instead of being viewed as a powerful learning tool that can be used to empower and engage in their own development (Stenberg, 2010). One way of evidencing this reflection and deep learning is through the creation of digital stories (Barrett, 2006). This case study presents the application and outcomes of a service-learning project between an urban university and an elementary school in which pre-service teachers utilized digital storytelling as a method for critical reflection and application of content methodology. The focus on the pre-service teacher's understanding of content skills, reflective inquiry and enhanced technology skills also supports the National Educational Technology Standards.

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