Community-Engaged Learning
Community-Engaged Learning or Service Learning is an opportunity for students to connect what they are learning in the classroom while providing service to the community and teaching civic responsibility (Utah State University, 2019).
There are “three important steps for doing Community-Engaged Learning:
- align course objectives and format,
- establishing a relationship with the community partner; and
- defining a reflection and evaluation strategy” (Tijsma et al., 2020, p. 390).
Community-Engaged Learning courses can be either discipline-based, research-based, or project-based and may take the form of an internship for more experienced students (Tijsma et al., 2020).
USU has a great Center for Community Engagement (CCE) to assist faculty and community partners, and find students to participate in these experiences. CCE staff can help you:
- Get your course designated as a CEL course
- Connect with existing community partners for projects relevant to your discipline and help establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to define the relationship, and manage risk
- Provide you with resources to help you and your students have a meaningful experience
- Recognize your efforts with CEL through annual awards and documentation to be used as part of the promotion and tenure review process
See the CCE website or contact Nelda Ault-Dyslin at nelda.ault@usu.edu for additional information about Community-Engaged Learning at USU.
References
Tijsma, G., Hilverda, F., Scheffelaar, A., Alders, S., Schoonmade, L., Blignaut, N., & Zweekhorst, M. (2020). Becoming productive 21st century citizens: A systematic review uncovering design principles for integrating community service learning into higher education courses. Educational Research, 62(4), 390–413. doi:10.1080/00131881.2020.1836987
Utah State University. (2019). Community-engaged learning faculty handbook. Utah State University Center for Community Engagement. Retrieved from https://www.usu.edu/cel/files/Updated_CEL_Faculty_Handbook.pdf