Week 9 : Multiple intelligence and Service learning

The focus on the learners styles and preferences is another manifestation of students centered teaching which is  quite an innovative and venturing choice that goes hand in hand with the requirements of a modern world much in need of students and citizens with highly advanced educational as well as personal skills, ones who are capable of taking initiative, react to the near and far environment  and respond positively to others in  multi-contextual situations .
 In this framework, I would love to share an experience we (teachers of English) supervised in coordination with the Ministry of Health.
 We selected a group of 10 computer smart students and scheduled part time sessions in a local hospital for them to teach the medical staff  word, power point and excel applications needed for administrative archiving, data storage and documentation. Prior to the two weeks schedule we sensitized students to the importance of service learning and how it opens up horizons in front of students to make connections and serve their community. The were also strongly recommended to assume the responsibility with much commitment and dedication. Our students had to visit the hospital thrice a week from 5 to 6 a.m. In return, some of the medical staff organized informative days in our school and gave  presentations about smoking, drugs and sexually  transmissible diseases.
 This experience contributed very much to bringing wide acclamation and praise to our school, expanded the realm of our students’ knowledge and relations and earned them high self esteem and confidence. It also paved way to new partnerships with other institutions like the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Sports and Youth.