MAKING MEANING OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH SERVICE LEARNING SUNDAY SCHOOL GPdI IN NGANJUK

An ounce of experience is worth than a ton of theory simply because it is only in experience that any theory has vital, values and verifiable significance. An experience in a real project for interior designer is capable to generate and carry any amount of theory (intellectual interior design content). Experience becomes educative when critical reflective thought creates new meaning, values and leads to growth and the ability to take informed actions in site. “Service-learning is a process through which students are involved in community work that contributes significantly: to positive change in individuals, organizations, neighborhoods and / or larger systems in a community; and to students’ academic understanding, civic development, personal or career growth, and / or understanding of larger social issues.” (Minnesota Campus Compact, 1999). Project management in Interior Design Petra Christian University try to combine service learning method into the real project in its subject to make meaning of experience in a real sunday school renovation project at Nganjuk. Students can learn how to run a real projects well (scope of the work, time and budget), in touch closely with community, and new values of life which they can’t get in an ordinary subject.
In this article we present the story in making meaning of experience, the advantages of using service learning method in project management study subject, which are the best practices used in project management of Interior Design Petra Christian University Surabaya. The author presents findings from experiences and hopes this findings will serve as a new model for interior design educators by using service learning method in a real project.