A Qualitative Study of Interdisciplinary Cooperation on Computer and English: A Case Study of Aletheia University Participated in International Volunteer Service Learning to Inner Mongolia

Abstract

This action research encompasses both descriptive and prescriptive treatment of the process and outcomes of an international and interdisciplinary volunteer service learning project. The project was held in a Junior High School in Suniteyou, Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia. The descriptive, qualitative aspect captures the reflections and thoughts of volunteer-service students. Sample participants include two teachers and fourteen students (five from the department of English, and nine from Information Management) from Aletheia University. It is found that service learning provides benefits to both service providers and service receivers. The target student population benefited from improved motivation and enhanced educational resources. Simultaneously, volunteer students (service providers) received numerous benefits, such as (1) mutually beneficial interaction with students from other departments, in conjunction with help from the teachers; (2) positive spillover effects from the service receiver students' learning enthusiasm; (3) expanded knowledge base through an active and effective task-based project (4) in conjunction with guided reflection, the project promoted positive attitudes, critical thinking and self-growth (5) experience that fosters professionalism; (6) happiness through accomplishing goals and helping others. The researchers also observed a number of problems during the service and the interdisciplinary cooperation. Even though the results showed that service provider students' learning effectiveness developed after participating the interdisciplinary cooperation; the study also discusses the interdisciplinary cooperation on students' impact and how interdisciplinary cooperation helped the volunteer students. Finally, this study provides many prescriptive observations for improvement. It is hoped that this study will promote the practice of offering service-learning opportunities in higher education to influence and encourage students to become active participants in society.

Effects of Service Learning on Physical Education Teacher Education Students’ Subjective Happiness, Prosocial Behavior, and Professional Learning

“…Some studies have confirmed a positive effect of SL on student happiness in different social environments, for example, a SL intervention carried out by university students with adolescents with low resources in Mongolia (Shu-Chin and Tzong-Heng, 2016) or a SL intervention carried out by preservice teachers with minors with special educational needs in Spain (Capella-Peris et al, 2020).…”