A SERVICE-LEARNING HEALTHCARE PROJECT: LESSONS FROM AN INTERIOR DESIGN COURSE

Abimbola O. Asojo

COLLEGE OF DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, 1985 BUFORD AVENUE, MCNEAL HALL, ST PAUL, MINNESOTA, 55108, USA.

aasojo@umn.edu

Accepted July 19, 2013

Current trends in higher education are promoting service-learning, a teaching methodology that incorporates community service opportunities into academic curriculum as a way of improving students learning outcomes and promoting civic engagement. This article discusses pedagogical experiences and lessons learned from a service learning healthcare project accomplished in a sophomore interior design studio course in spring 2013 at the University of Minnesota. Students gained disciplinary and civic benefits while design problem solving for the Coffey Hall clinic with healthcare professionals. The author presents findings from the experience and hopes these findings will serve as a model for design educators interested in service-learning projects.

Key words: Service-learning, Interior design, Healthcare design, Design pedagogy.

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