Graduate and undergraduate gerontology students teamed to design and implement intergenerational service-learning projects. A weekly critical incident questionnaire gathered data on team development, collaboration, and learning. Students (n=17) considered team process the high point of the class; learning emerged through struggles with the…

A survey of 230 students in intergenerational service learning courses identified their motivations for involvement. Younger women were interested in relationship-related benefits; older women in altruism and knowledge gains. Males were interested in gaining credits and opportunities to work in areas of potential career interest. (SK)

The intergenerational field began in the early 1970s as a social phenomenon in response to several factors that were affecting America's children, youth, and older adults. This paper briefly surveys three aspects of intergenerational programs: history and development, public policy focus, and recent research initiatives. The multi-disciplinary…

An experimental group of 22 undergraduates (including 10 over age 55) took a course with an intergenerational service learning component. Compared to 22 controls, results showed the course increased knowledge about aging processes and improved attitudes toward aging. (SK)

Data from 214 students in adult development and aging classes (117 participated in service learning) indicated that service learning did not seem to affect social values, civic attitudes, or achievement. It did result in improved understanding of course concepts, dispelled myths about aging, and reinforced career choices. (SK)

Fourteen students received training and visited homebound elderly 8 times; 10 students in an aging seminar visited elderly twice. Compared to a control group of 20, visitation groups were significantly more positive toward the elderly and in their views of their own aging. (SK)

Describes the Generations Together program, an intergenerational service-learning experience for undergraduate students and how the three generations - the young child, the college student, and the older adult - impact on each other. Presents the benefits to the participants, insights regarding children and their families, and students'…

In an intergenerational service-learning project, occupational therapy interns provided wellness interventions for older adults residing in a community house. Occupational performance measures improved for six of eight clients. Students increased knowledge of wellness planning and programming. The program was consistent with the house's mission of…

Senior to Senior: Living Lessons is a program created to provide meaningful horticulture therapy activities for community minority elders (60 years of age and older) and senior college students (20 years of age and older) from an Historically Black University. The program's objectives were to promote positive intergenerational relationships and to…

Service-learning evaluation rarely compares different cohorts of students, so it is difficult to determine whether the findings are reliable. This study compared attitudinal change in five successive cohorts of intergenerational service-learning students (n =59) enrolled in an introductory gerontology course at a major Midwestern university.…

Pre/post-project data from 40 students who worked with 25 older workers on skill-building activities indicated that service learning improved their attitudes toward older workers. Preproject, both students and workers felt older workers would not be comfortable with technology. Students discovered that older workers are interested in and capable…

Service-learning is a pedagogical innovation in higher education that offers experiential learning to students while providing benefits to communities. Recognizing the importance of this innovation, the Corporation for National and Community Service has promoted the development of intergenerational service-learning components in gerontology…

A model of service learning that can serve as a vehicle for teaching, research, and community service is suggested to college faculty. Two such projects are described: a project providing parent education to young families while researching effectiveness of temperament education, and an intergenerational program to determine whether community…

This booklet contains suggestions to assist educators in using the "Linking Learning With Life" books relevant to all levels of service learning and, particularly, to use in teacher education programs. The guidebooks are grouped into five sections. Each section represents a different subject area relating to teacher education. For each…