Abstract:

Service-learning (SL) projects aim to combine social engagement with the acquisition of knowledge, skills and values. Nowadays, teaching must incorporate innovative methods and service-learning includes both active learning processes and the improvement of transversal competences for students. For this reason, the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has a service-learning office that guides and provides financial support to projects developing LS experiences in degree level. These projects allow the students to acquire knowledge while contributing to the society, developing activities within the framework of one or more subjects.

We conducted a specific SL project to develop an interactive web map that classifies the streets around an educational centre according to their degree of comfort, accessibility and safety level for children travelling to school. The project development involved students of three different subjects, which enriched the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. We believe that the SL project created an innovative interaction between academic staff, students, and society, deeply increasing the capacity of the students to acquire skills related to managing, processing, and mapping spatial data, teamwork, organization and planning, and effective communication. This hypothesis was tested with data from the seven students who participated in the project. A specific questionnaire was used to capture students' views.

The results obtained indicate that the students agree that the participation in the project improved their skills in all the competencies worked in the subject, also in their respective courses. Additional studies are needed to consolidate these exploratory findings, including students from other backgrounds.

Keywords:

Service-learning, web map, pedestrian mobility, children.