The Alternative Intersession Break: Health Education Off-Campus

Abstract

A means of offering a unique health education course during the time when many universities and colleges are out of session (between academic semesters)—an alternative break—is presented. A winter term course titled Service-Learning in Health Education, taught between the fall and spring semesters, involving transporting students to an out-of-town location, and organizing health and wellness seminars for elders is described. The 12-day course was based on a service-learning model and resulted in evidence of a degree of learning, motivation, and student involvement seldom experienced in full-semester courses. Student reflections on the course are presented that demonstrate learning about health education methodology, about elders, and about themselves. Students reported a greater interest in participating in community service when they returned to campus, and of getting to know their elderly relatives better. Information is presented to provide guidance for other health educators who might wish to model a course on this experience.