Types of Community-based Learning Courses
The varying models are listed below, alongside corresponding UW-Madison course examples:
Discipline-based Service-learning
The experiential, “direct service” learning is closely aligned with and complements the classroom learning in a discipline, as in tutoring students in a math class. Example: Rehab Psych & Special Education 300 – Individuals with Disabilities
Project-based/ Consulting Service-learning
Students have an evolving skill to offer as a “deliverable” to community partners. Example: Civil Society and Community Studies 335 – Communicating with key audiences
Capstone
At higher level of knowledge; students expected to bring several years of coursework to the project or service; e.g., designing curriculum for middle school programs. Example: Environmental Studies 600 – Last Child in the Park: How kids and birds can save the world
Community-based Learning Internship
Students spend considerable amount of time per week at an organization, but still incorporating classroom or online reflection with instructor in order to process the community learning. Example: Women’s Studies 660 – Internship in Women’s Studies
Community-based Research
With instructor and sometimes community members as participants, students engage in research of value to community partner. Example: Civil Society and Community Studies 570 – Community-based Research and Evaluation
Measuring Academic Success
Academic credit is awarded for the student’s demonstration of integrating their classroom and reading content with their community engagement.
While in traditional courses we assess students’ learning from traditional course resources, e.g., textbooks, class discussions, library research, etc., in CBL courses we evaluate students’ learning from the blending of traditional resources and community service.
Incorporation of Reflection
Reflection activities provide a method or methods for students to process what they learned through the service experience and how these experiences relate to academic course content. It is a thoughtfully-constructed process that challenges and guides students in:
- examining critical issues related to their community-based learning project
- connecting the service experience to coursework
- enhancing the development of civic and ethical skills and values, and
- finding personal relevance in the work
Minimum Amount of Service
The Morgridge Center for Public Service and other academic centers at peer institutions recommend at least 25 hours of service over the course of the semester in order for a direct-service course to be considered of value. This is borne out by studies showing less contact is less valuable for student learning, as well as of little value to community organizations except in certain “plug and play” volunteer situations (landscape clean-up day at the zoo, etc.)