University Physical Therapy Students Create Community Resource

Physical Therapy students transition Community Based Learning to virtual community resource.
Physical Therapy Students Help Kids Focus on Fitness, Safety, and Mental Health
Physical Therapy Students Help Kids Focus on Fitness, Safety, and Mental Health

A distinguishing feature of The University of Scranton’s Jesuit education is the opportunity for students to engage in Community Based Learning (CBL) as a part of their degree coursework. When courses were moved online this past April, faculty with CBL components faced the challenge of maintaining the richness that community-engaged experiences brings to the curriculum.

Physical Therapy faculty specialist Jennifer J. Schwartz, DPT, NCS typically brings her students to area schools to work with elementary students directly by providing physical fitness, as well as nutrition, safety and mental wellness, lessons aimed at young children. When the University moved to remote instruction, Dr. Schwartz also transitioned her CBL component for PT755 Teaching and Learning in Physical Therapy to a new virtual format.

In lieu of community-based presentations, physical therapy students in PT755 created a set of virtual videos for age groups K – 2 and 3 – 5 offering fun ways for kids to stay healthy and fit during the stay at home orders. In addition to providing young children with stretching videos and lessons on how to “fly” like their favorite superhero, Dr. Schwartz’s students are still able to share lessons with elementary students as part of their own collegiate learning experience.  

The Exercise Videos for Kids created as an assignment for PT755 were shared by Dr. Schwartz and her students to The University of Scranton’s Office of Community Relations virtual library of kids activities. Additional virtual resources available in this library include Scranton Story Time videos created by students in partnership with the Center for Service and Social Justice and Integrated Art Lessons created by Dr. Catherine Cullen’s EDUC339 Math for Grades 2 – 4 course. 

Parents and guardians can access the videos by visiting www.scranton.edu/virtualkidsactivities.

The resources will be available for the duration of remote instruction due to the pandemic.

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