There are numerous ways to incorporate community based learning opportunities into the college classroom. When designing a community based service learning experience you might consider the following questions:
What are the learning objectives of the curriculum?
What kinds of community experiences do you imagine for students?
How will those experiences complement course learning objectives?
How might class enrollment affect the curriculum?
How can the course and class time support the kinds of issues that community work often raises?
How many hours of service do you want students to complete?
What other course responsibilities will students have as they interact with community sites?
What kinds of assignments affect or are affected by the needs of the local community?
How will you evaluate student learning? What role, if any, will community partners have in that evaluation?
Once you have established your goal for designing a service component, the staff at the Shaw Center can work with you to coordinate student experiences.
