April 22, 2002

 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS FOR MOUNT WACHUSETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE BIOLOGY STUDENTS

(GARDNER) - Assisting at the Greenville Wildlife Park, interpreting exhibits at the Ecotarium in Worcester, and helping with marine mammals at the New England Aquarium are just some of the service learning projects students are completing in Helen Boland's Biology II class.  Boland is a resident of Orange, MA.  Other students are: tracking animals at the Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton, working on the televised bald eagle project in Gill, MA, and organizing "Biodiversity Days," identifying local species and determining the health of their local ecosystems.

Boland has integrated service learning into her Biology, Ecology, Horticulture, Human Anatomy and Global Environmental Issues courses.  "I have found that service learning really energizes the class, even those not involved," she said.  "When the students are applying their class work in a meaningful way, their learning dramatically increases."

In addition to these benefits, Boland has found that service learning empowers her students.  "It makes them feel powerful and effective," she said.  "They see how they can make a difference in the world."  She has found that many of her students end up doing more than is required, and some have actually continued their service learning projects even after the class has finished.

Biology student Jeremy Caron is actually completing two service learning projects for different classes.  In addition to working as a wildlife assistant at the Greenville Wildlife Park, he tutors children at the House of Peace and Education, Inc. in Gardner for his English Composition II course with English Professor Lorie Donahue. 

At the Greenville Wildlife Park, Caron feeds, cleans, and moves the animals and their cages.  "Through this experience, I have become more interested in wildlife," said Caron.  "Not only have I learned a lot about the animals, I have also learned what's involved in running a wildlife park."  While giving a tour recently of the park, Caron was able to demonstrate the knowledge he has attained as a result of the project. 

Although Caron works three jobs: at a convenience store, a diner, and as a substitute teaching for the Jaffrey/Rindge school district, he says he often spends more than the ten hours a week he had originally planned for. 

Another student, Venessa Rife, is participating in two service learning projects for the biology class, one as an exhibit interpreter at the EcoTarium, and the other at Wachusett Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary helping with a ten year study of salamanders.  Rife, member of MASSPIRG and devoted volunteer for environmental causes, took on the additional project because she feels that it is important "to be part of the solution."  She would also like to build on her volunteer experience since she plans to enter the Peace Corps after earning her four-year degree in Environmental Biology.

"Not only do these service learning projects provide the students with a better learning experience, it gives them a chance to explore interests and gain experience that will help them in the future," Boland said.