Thinking question: How will community-based learning pedagogy help achieve your learning goals?  

Community-based learning is an educational approach that integrates classroom instruction with meaningful community engagement. It promotes active engagement, collaboration, and practical application of knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of academic concepts and cultivating civic responsibility among learners. 

Essential Elements of Community-based Learning:  

• Meaningful Engagement: Facilitated by mutually beneficial engagement that is relevant for all stakeholders- community groups, students, and instructors. 

• Deeper Engagement with Learning: CBL courses incorporate relevant academic content, theories, and concepts. 

• Reflective Learning: Encourages students to examine their purpose while exploring solutions to improve the human condition. 

There are various ways to include a community-based learning assignment in your course: 

• Direct Service- students work directly with consumers, clients, or staff of a community organization to provide a needed service.  
• Community-Based research- students conduct research as defined by the community partner. 
• Project-based- students engage with community partners as “consultants” to create a product for a community organization or its consumers, clients, or staff.  
• Community Education- students research and develop resources to educate community members about social issues or skill development.