Engage with MasonTransformational Learning through Community Engagement

Agenda Introductions Overview of Principles and Options Small group discussion BREAK Panel: Perspectives on EL Partnerships Wrap-up

Engage with Mason

Engage with Mason Students

Engage with Mason

Engage with Mason Students

Volunteerism Community Work-Study Internships Field Studies and Community Based

Research Community Based Learning and Service

Learning

Engage with Mason

VolunteerismNon-credit bearing projects with groups of students (e.g. student organizations, residence hall floors)

Pro Con

• Voluntarily engaged students = energy

• Freedom from constraints of the academic calendar

• Less expertise and typically no faculty to provide training/information.

• Volunteer commitment is sometimes uncertain

Engage with Mason

Community Work-StudyStudents earn pay through their work with you, with approximately 2/3 of the funds coming from the Federal Financial Aid program.

Pro Con

• Freedom from constraints of the academic calendar

• Students earning funding are typically much more committed

• Federal funding = some paperwork hassles

• You need 1/3 of the funds• Your hiring choices are

“limited” to students who qualify for financial aid.

Engage with Mason

Credit-Bearing “EL” at Mason Internships. Individual student experiences, but with a faculty

advisor 45 hours in the field = 1 academic credit Must have a learning agreement/syllabus with a faculty member in

advance Can be initiated by community partner or student

Course add-on. Students opt to add 1 credit to an existing course through relevant experience 45 hours in the field = 1 academic credit Must have a learning agreement/syllabus with a faculty member in

advance Typically initiated by student, occasionally suggested by faculty

Integrated in a course. 45 hours in the field NOT required Several design models will be discussed here Often initiated by faculty, but ideally co-constructed with community

partner

Engage with Mason

Credit-Bearing “EL” at MasonSchedule Fall and Spring are 15 week semesters January term is Summer terms are

Session A: Late May through June (5 weeks) Session B: June through mid-July (7 weeks) Session C: July through early August (5

weeks)

Current academic schedule: registrar.gmu.edu/calendars/

Engage with Mason

InternshipsCredit-bearing professional development experiences

45 hours in the field = 1 academic credit Must have a learning agreement with a faculty member

You can help the student by being ready to articulate what the student will do and learn.

The student will need to articulate how learning will be demonstrated (make this project work for you when you can)

Learning agreement must be signed by community partner, faculty and student prior to the course registration period Promote and “hire” interns the semester prior to when credit

will be earned. Whether paid or unpaid, internship “employers” are required to

follow Department of Labor laws/regulations.

Contacts: To post internship positions: Career Services, http://careers.gmu.edu To arrange for academic credit: in most departments the student needs to arrange with an

internship coordinator or other faculty member.

Engage with Mason

EL Integrated Courses Service-Learning/Community-Based Learning Field Studies courses Research courses

A Few Typical Models: Individual placements

Either students find their own placement or faculty provide pre-approved options

Group projects Can sometimes involve little time in the field, instead

students provide a product (e.g. a data-base design, marketing plan)

Full class projects The entire class engages as a group Not necessarily scheduled together: stay open-minded

Engage with Mason

EL Integrated CoursesPrimary Goals of Paperwork: Clarity of the scope and nature of the project

is shared by faculty, student and community partner. (Learning agreement form)

Data is gathered to assess and respond for continual improvement. (End of semester evaluation form: submit online)

New: Long-term Partnership Agreements The rest of our process is evolving right now –

please stand by as PROGRESS is being made!

Engage with Mason

Experiential Learning (Kolb)

Act

Reflect

Conceptualize/Theory Build

Apply

Engage with Mason

Principles of Good Practice Studies have shown that for

transformational learning to occur: Students must engage in meaningful work Students must think critically about what

they have learned about community, the course topics, and themselves

The experience should be integrated into the coursework

(Eyler & Giles, 1999; Mitchell, 2008)

Engage with Mason

Our Values Co-creation of projects with community

partners Mutually beneficial projects with

meaningful student work Sustained campus/community

partnerships Building student capacity to engage in

community work

Engage with Mason

Our Values Intentional student learning goals Integration of experiences with other

course elements (assignments, class discussion, etc.)

Student reflection and critical thinking on experience

Attention to civic learning

Engage with Mason

Staying Connected Sharing Resources via Wiki

Sharing Reflections via Blog

Information Form for follow-up

Engage with Mason

Group Discussion

How do you/could you benefit from a campus/community partnership?

What are the keys to a successful partnership from your perspective? What are the challenges?

Do you have any processes or practices in place that help improve the quality of these partnerships?

Are there any questions or issues you would like the panel to discuss?

Engage with Mason