Experiential Learning Portfolio - Sangmin Park

 

Virtual Service-Learning Projects: Promoting Career Development of High School Students

Brief description of your focus area/project:

I developed two virtual service-learning projects that I will use in the counselor education program. These two service-learning projects are designed to assist high school students’ career development virtually during pandemic. Two CSUS career counseling classes (EDC 260 Career Development, EDC 266 Career Program Development) will participate in this project in Fall 2021 at the Criminal Justice Academy in Grant High School. Students involved in this project will learn effective methods towards their career planning, such as self-reflection, career research, career goals and goal setting.

 

Program Objectives

In participating this service-learning project,

Criminal Justice Academy students will:
• Develop knowledge of career resources and job search skills to assist with gaining employment
• Create and tailor a working resume to use for multiple job opportunities
• Understand their interest and values through the use of career assessment instruments, so that they could use this information to match themselves with different type of employment

From this service-learning project, CSUS students will:
• Demonstrate understanding of the principles of career development and decision-making across the lifespan;
• Develop strategies for facilitating client skill development for career, educational, and life-work planning and management;
• Develop abilities to design and implement programs for diverse populations that involve collaborative planning, curriculum, development, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes;
• Enhance their learning while engaging in hands-on service in the community;
• Engage students in reflection and critical thinking that link learning from service to learning in the classroom.

 

Reflection on FLC (200 – 250 words): From the FLC, I was able to learn how to implement service learning activities in distance learning format. After the unprecedented pandemic, service-learning courses in counselor education program were inevitably impacted by school shut down and campus closure. Since the main learning objective of the courses was applying counseling theories and integrating counseling philosophy into practical applications, we had challenges in providing alternative ways of learning for those classes. Sometimes I had to change required assignments optional. This process led me to reimagine the service learning in online teaching. I tried to keep everything minimum and simple to reduce challenges and stress that students might be already experienced. However, from the FLC, I realized that I might underestimate the power of service learning for students during this pandemic. During this challenging time, students would be benefited by using service learning assignments as an opportunity to maintain connection with other people to overcome their physical isolation and cultivate real-world skills that can support community and future clients. The discussion I had with peer FLC participants were very helpful in finding innovative and creative approaches to implement service learning.

 

Documentation: upload and create a link to your deliverable:

service learning projects proposal.pdf Download service learning projects proposal.pdf

 

Faculty Photo and Short Bio:

I'm an assistant professor in Counselor Education program and a National Certified Counselor. I joined career counseling faculty in the Fall of 2017. I received my Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Iowa. I have counseling experience in a variety of settings including university counseling centers, youth counseling centers, and K-12 schools. My research interests include social justice and career development considerations for marginalized populations. I I have a personal and professional commitment to building a multicultural and diverse learning environment that fosters social justice and advocacy.