Title: Identifying and understanding the graduate attributes learning outcomes in a case study of community service experiential learning project

Authors: Cecilia Ka Yuk Chan

Addresses: Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, 3rd Floor, Run Run Shaw Building, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Abstract: Experiential learning has been increasingly adopted by universities worldwide as the means to develop students' graduate attributes. In this paper, the author investigated the learning outcomes that the type of graduate attributes can deliver in the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Sichuan reconstruction project. This project encompassed an experiential learning experience enabling students to serve the post-quake Sichuan community by applying their knowledge and skills. The author will explore how this community service type of experiential learning in the engineering discipline allowed students to experience deep learning and develop their graduate attributes. It is shown that most students dealt with authentic and unfamiliar challenges through group cooperation, and were able to reflect from the experience and act accordingly.

Keywords: experiential learning; graduate attributes; community service; learning outcomes; universities; higher education; student attributes; University of Hong Kong; Sichuan; reconstruction projects; post-quake communities; earthquakes; student knowledge; student skills; deep learning; authentic challenges; unfamiliar challenges; group cooperation; continuing education; life-long learning; engineering education; e-learning; electronic learning; online learning; internet; world wide web; online courses; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2012.047040

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2012 Vol.22 No.1/2, pp.148 - 159

Received: 28 Apr 2011
Accepted: 21 Sep 2011

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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