Experiential Learning in an Information Science CurriculumRobert A. Allen

Mercer University, Macon, Georgia 31207.

General Education Changes Abstract

IST 301 Examples

Information Science Changes

In 2012 Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts began to offer a new general education program that required “Experiential Learning.” In 2013 Mercer’s Department of Computer Science decided to rewrite their Information Science degree, and in the process were able to incorporate a nice service learning component. This poster describes the service learning component in our revised Information Science degree, and hails success stories from a variety of course projects.  

The New BS in IST Curriculum

IST Capstone Course

IST 470 3

3

Mathematics Course

MAT 126 (or MAT 320) 3

3

Communications Course

TCO 341 3

3

Formal Presentation

No course 0

Total Hours 44

IST Depth - Pick 2

IST 311 3

IST 321 3

IST 349 3

IST 417 3

IST 471 3

IST 472 3

IST 485 3

6

IST Core Courses Hours

IST 126 3

CSC 204 4

IST 220 3

IST 221 3

IST 222 3

IST 276 3

19

IST Integrative Courses

IST 317 3

IST 351 3

6

IST Experiential Courses

IST 301 4

4

General Education’s New EXP

Experiential Learning (EXP)Experiential learning promotes an understanding of academic material through active participation and reflection. These experiences substantially improve the learning of class material, build valuable skills, and have a positive impact on the student and the larger community. Fulfillment of the Experiential Learning Requirement must be approved and documented by a faculty or staff mentor, who will engage students in a reflection exercise that is appropriate to the discipline and nature of the experience. Upon successful completion of the experience (as defined by current guidelines adopted by the College) students will receive the appropriate EXP designation on their transcripts.

Students must fulfill the Experiential Learning Requirement in at least one of the following ways:

a. EXP 401: Supervised Undergraduate Researchb. EXP 402: Creative Activity in the Artsc. EXP 403: Service Learningd. EXP 404: Study Away Experiencee. EXP 405: Mercer on Mission f. EXP 406: Competitive Academic Teams g. EXP 407: Internshiph. EXP 490: Special Project

IST 301. Experiential Learning: (Subtitle) (1 hour)Prerequisite: IST 126 and permission of instructor.Students will engage in real world projects related to information science and technology. They will have scheduled meetings to share and reflect on their experiences. All students will maintain a log of their activities and prepare a final report on their project. Graded S/U. (Every semester)

IST 301 – Contest Support

Students contributed to many locally hosted, and nation-wide online contests. Setting up machines, troubleshooting failures during contests, and even building problems for some contests.

EXP 301 Digital Journalist

IST 301 – Community Engagement Portal

A group of students have begun to develop a community engagement portal for Dr. Mary Alice Morgan – Provost of Service Learning at Mercer University. The site has a long way to go, but we have students working on it .

IST 301 – Web Support for Business

We are always receiving requests for students to assist local businesses with their websites. Sometimes the request is to help maintain the site. Sometimes it is a total build, including database support.

IST 301 – CSC Ambassadors IST 301 – Many more ideas….

• Cyber Defense Team• K-12 Tutors• Technology Support• Information Security Support• Summer Camp Support• App Development Support• Senior Citizen Instruction

• We’d love to hear your ideas!!

Derived from an idea presented at the 2013 Gulf South Summit, The Story Walk, we have some students building a community digital journalist system. In this system stories are written and stored in the cloud. Then, as you walk around a park, or downtown area, or anywhere, the further you walk, the more of the story you can read. Students are working with a community park revitalization program to find a fit for the digital journalist.