Development and Implementation of Self-Directed Service Learning in Premedical Curricula for Education Consulting

The purpose of this study is to explore the educational outcomes and education consulting of a self-directed service learning program, the Good Work Project, for premedical students. The Good Work Project includes team activities as follows. First, all students build a team and develop a service learning subject for themselves. Second, they study a service learning subject for more than 10 hours during the summer vacation. Eventually, the participants share their experiences and achievements with each other. After the program, a surveywas conducted to assess the program and to identify and analyze student attitudes about and satisfaction with the program. Questionnaires consisting of 25 (5-point Likert-type) items were developed, including questions about service experiences and orientation, learning outcomes and learning experiences, teamactivity and teamwork, and acknowledgement of the overall process of the program.We grouped 74 students into 18 teams and identified a number of service learning themes. Students were generally satisfied with the Good Work Project overall (M=4.00). Particularly high awareness was shown for three items: the value of community service, service should be sustained, and community service is a great thing, and a wonderful way to create positive changewithin the society. The GoodWork Project helps enhance self-directed learning and reflection among students recognize by tasking them with designing service learning program for themselves. The service learning is an important teaching and learning tool in the area of themedical humanities.