Mercy College Faculty and Students Showcased in Article Entitled, Oral Communication Skills In Senior Citizens: A Community Service Model
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. (PRWEB) July 13, 2013 -- The Communication Disorders program at Mercy College has developed a unique community service model where senior citizens engage and interact with students at the college to promote the seniors’ oral communication stills. Now, the Mercy College community service model is front and center in an article written by Mercy College professors Dr. Christine Kosky and Dr. Gloria Schlisselberg. The article Oral Communication Skills in Senior Citizens: A Community Service Model is featured in the June edition of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Perspectives on Issues in Higher Education.
The article explains the benefits of a community service model and how to implement this model that is presently unique to the Communication Disorders program at Mercy College. Under this model, students are exposed to an additional clinical community experience which is specifically designed to promote senior citizens' oral discussion skills in group settings.
Dr. Kosky says, “Using this model, students plan and apply techniques and strategies to successfully engage the seniors in discussion groups in community-based and private residential facilities. This trans-generational experience teaches each generation about the other. The students need to think on their feet, work with varying communication levels, exhibit flexibility, plan broadly, and consider the perspective of the seniors with respect to themes and activities. For seniors, sharing their memories with the younger generation gives them the opportunity to impart their wisdom."
Dr. Schlisselberg says, “The model has been successful because students have an opportunity to interact with other health care professionals as well as develop collaborative skills, which are essential in the field of communication disorders.”
Dr. Kosky and Dr. Schlisselberg hope that this model has applicability to other colleges and universities around the country.
About Mercy College
Founded in 1950, Mercy College is a private, not-for-profit higher education institution that offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs within five prestigious schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Liberal Arts. Mercy College offers an engaging and personalized learning experience that includes the College’s revolutionary Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) program. The Mercy College PACT is the first program of its kind and now serves as a nationally recognized model for mentoring. http://www.mercy.edu/ 877-MERCY-GO.
Catherine Cioffi, Mercy College, 914 674 7736, [email protected]
Share this article