Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
GREGORY HICKMAN
Abstract
Service learning is a combination of academic study and community service. Service learning is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perspectives of high school graduates on the effectiveness of the role of service learning and employment postgraduation in the Cayman Islands. Experiential learning theory served as a guiding conceptual framework for this study. Interviews with open-ended questions were conducted with 7 participants who graduated from a prominent high school in the Cayman Islands within the last 4 years. The participants were between ages 18 and 25 and recruited through purposive sampling strategy. Themes were generated using thematic data analysis, which involves multiple steps to develop the themes from the interviewees. The findings revealed that the participants experienced a sense of accomplishment, which is a perfect model both for academic and personal goals. Key results from the study illustrated that service learning impact on student outcomes is immense and perceived as a valuable component in securing employment. The findings from this study of service learning may be applied in developing students' independence through authentic experiences that may have a permanent impact on their lives in encouraging them to be active in creating positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Ricketts, Diane Deloris, "High School Graduates' Perspectives on Employment and Service Learning" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 9434.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/9434
