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There are two key components of Community-Based Learning at UWW and they are defined as follows:
Service Learning is a course or competency-based, credit-bearing educational experience in which students:
- Participate in mutually identified service activites that benefit the community.
- Reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility. (Bringle and Clayton, 2012, adapted from Bringle and Hatcher, 1995)
Community-Based Research: "Community-Based Research is collaborative inquiry that is dedicated primarily to serving the research or information needs of community organizations. The Community-Based Research community-campus partnership includes representatives of the community organization, students, and faculty. These partners work together to address a community organization's need to study itself (e.g., to evaluate a program) or to gather information necessary for organizational or program development (e.g., a community needs/assets assessment)." (Paul, E. L. (2006). Community-based research as scientific and civic pedagogy. Peer Review, 8(1): Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/publications-research/periodicals/community-based-research-scientific-and-civic-pedagogy.)
To get started with CBL, here are some key resources:
- UW-Whitewater Course Redesign Planning Guide
- Checklist for New CBL Courses
- UW-Whitewater CBL Student Learning Outcomes and Rubric
- Michigan State University Service-Learning Toolkit: https://communityengagedlearning.msu.edu/upload/toolkits/Service-Learning-Toolkit.pdf.
- Tips from a UWW Faculty Member
- Hold Harmless Form Template
Please see our Resources page for an extensive list of additional resources!