IMPLEMENTİNG THE COMMUNİTY SERVİCES COURSE: PRACTİCE EXAMPLES AND EVALUATİON OF STUDENTS’ AND INSTRUCTOR’ PERCEPTİONS: SAKARYA UNİVERSİTY HEALTH VOCATİONAL SCHOOL CASE

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present examples from the practices of the elective course called Community Service Practices (THU) at the Vocational School of Health Services and to evaluate the views of students and instructor about the process. The participants of the study are 235 Medical Laboratories, Medical Secretariat, Anesthesiology and Physiotherapy students who are enrolled in THU course at Sakarya University Vocational School of Health Services and lecturers giving THU course. Within the scope of this course, various projects aimed at serving the society have been developed and put into practice for 14 weeks. In this study, application examples for the structuring of this course, the themes that emerged in the thoughts of students and lecturers, and the implications for the course are given. Students were asked to keep logs and prepare reports for the evaluation of the projects and the course developed within the scope of the study. Descriptive analysis technique was used in the analysis of the research data. From the examination of the student reports, it is understood that the most prominent result thanks to the practices carried out in this course is to contribute to the personal development of the students and to develop awareness and service to the society. Participant instructor stated that Community Service Practices course should be well planned and it was necessary to take into consideration the interests and expectations of the students.