Service learning in physiotherapy taken to a new level: experiences in South Africa

Abstract

In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that does not exist. 1Limited financial resources and social problems in the communities surrounding the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa prompted the need for community engagement as a core university activity. A facilitator in the form of a non-profit company called the Khula Xhariep Partnership (KXP) was created to ensure sustainable opportunities for members involved in community engagement. In 2005, the Physiotherapy Department of the UFS initiated a community outreach programme in the form of a service learning module with specific service learning pedagogic skills and outcomes to meet the mandatory requirements of all the relevant statutory bodies, and the mission statement of the KXP. From this service learning module, it became clear that effective civic engagement can only take place when integrated in all university activities, within a structured curriculum with definite teaching and learning outcomes, quality academic supervision, assessment and research.

Percepción sobre la metodología aprendizaje servicio en estudiantes de kinesiología de una universidad tradicional chilena

“…El A+S está basado en las teorías pedagógicas de Dewey y Freire, en la cual se combina la participación activa de los estudiantes con la comunidad y la reflexión permanente del actuar 2 . A lo anterior, podemos agregar que el A+S es necesariamente una actividad planificada con objetivos de servicios y aprendizajes previamente definidos, produciéndose un beneficio mutuo entre la comunidad que necesita algo y los estudiantes que adquieren su aprendizaje y oportunidad para la adquisición de habilidades de pensamiento superior, como la reflexión, dando sentido a la experiencia de aprendizaje 3,4 .…”

Projetos de Aprendizagem em Serviço na Espanha

“…Em muitos países, principalmente da América Latina e da Europa, incluindo a Espanha, projetos acadêmicos chamados Aprendizagem em Serviço (ApS) vêm sendo desenvolvidos e difundidos na área da saúde e da promoção da saúde, inclusive na fisioterapia, sendo considerados uma proposta educacional que une a aprendizagem e o serviço (KRAUSE, 2007;GAZSI, ORIEL, 2010;BALDOINO, VERAS, 2016). Além da saúde, eles podem estar relacionados ao meio ambiente, cooperação internacional, atendimento a grupos de pessoas carentes, apoio à educação, cultura, entre outros.…”

Physiotherapy Student Experiences of Developing Therapeutic Relationships whilst volunteering with the action after Stroke Charity

“…Student vulnerability to hostile practice cultures can foster task-orientation rather than humanistic approaches to care [9]. This suggests that alternative models of practice education should be explored, enabling a focus on the development of a student-patient therapeutic relationship.Volunteering has been advocated as an activity which can nurture interpersonal trust, tolerance and empathy for others [10], with international reports of its use in physical therapy education programmes [11]. In the UK, physiotherapy students, who volunteered in local community-based placements, where students functioned in a non-clinical 'coats off' capacity, were found to develop professional values and behaviors associated with patient-centred care [12].…”