by Annette Saunders
Ryan Manuel, assistant professor of practice at Purdue University’s School of Construction Management Technology, has incorporated service-learning into his teaching to create hands-on experiences for his students while fostering a sense of civic duty.
Manuel’s co-instructor, Mark Zimpfer, proposed transforming their senior-level construction management course by integrating service-learning. However, the pair quickly realized they needed additional guidance to run a service-learning course. As a result, Manuel applied for the Service-Learning Fellowship and was accepted into the cohort.
Shortly after, Manuel and Zimpfer partnered with Lafayette Parks and Recreation. The organization outlined their needs, including an elevated footpath and a community deck area at a local water park. The students were divided into groups to design either the footpath or the deck. After the design stage, they pitched their ideas to Lafayette Parks and Recreation, which selected two favorite designs and decided to incorporate elements from other ideas. The class then gathered materials and began building the projects.
Previously, the course focused on theoretical projects and how students would address them. Now, with authentic, hands-on experiences at the forefront, Manuel said students are much more enthusiastic about their work. He added that they enjoy creating tangible projects and are motivated by the knowledge that the community will benefit from their work.
Manuel believes service-learning’s value lies in its ability to inspire a civic mindset. He noted that his students “light up” when they work on projects that meet a community need. He hopes this experience will encourage students to become more involved in service and apply it in their future careers.
Manuel’s motivation to continue implementing service-learning stems from the eagerness he sees in his students and his ability to serve the community. A Lafayette native, Manuel is raising his family in the area. He shared that he looks forward to one day taking his family to the parks and showing them the work his students have done.
His advice for those considering applying for the fellowship:
“Go into it wholeheartedly.”
Although not required, Manuel also recommended entering the fellowship with a community partner already in place, saying it helped him and Zimpfer fine-tune their course more effectively.