Community Based Learning (CBL) —sometimes referred to as service learning, civic engagement, or experiential learning (Pereira & Costa, 2019)—is an innovative, engaged teaching strategy that integrates direct community engagement into academic courses to mutually benefit students and community partners (Pereira & Costa, 2019; Prentice & Robinson, 2010). Generally, CBL may be distinguished from other pedagogy by its emphasis on developing students’ civic awareness, knowledge, skills, values, and purpose, and goal to produce tangible social change (Saltmarsh, 2005; Strand et al., 2003). As a teaching and learning strategy, CBL is among the high-impact practices identified by the AAC&U and is found to be profoundly beneficial to promoting students’ critical thinking, self-efficacy, interpersonal skills, civic and social responsibility, academic development, and educational success, (Pereira & Costa, 2019; Prentice & Robinson, 2010; Selvaratnam, 2013), therefore enriching their educational experience. However, CBL courses need to be developed intentionally in order to realize meaningful and productive engagement with community partners and rich student learning.
Participants in this learning community will:
- Learn about effective course design for CBL courses
- Develop desired CBL learning outcomes and meaningful course activities and assessments
- Explore best practices for connecting to and engaging productively with community partners
- Brainstorm how to manage challenges that might arise in CBL courses
- Network with other colleagues interested in teaching in CBL environments
Throughout the semester, faculty will read the relevant literature, reflect on desired goals for community-engaged activities and projects, develop a plan for connecting with a community partner and implementing a CBL course. Regular meetings will include readings, discussions, collaborative working sessions, and hands-on workshops. The faculty learning community will decide as a group how best to use the expertise they gain in order to support the Temple faculty community at large.
Facilitators: Dana Dawson, Associate Director of Teaching & Learning, Stephanie Fiore, Associate Vice Provost & Sr. Director
Faculty commit to:
- Attend meetings on the following dates: Wednesdays, 3:00-4:30, beginning September 3rd
- In-person: September 3, October 1, October 29, December 10
- Online via Zoom: September 17, October 15, November 12, December 3
- Complete readings, activities and assignments between meetings.
- Develop a plan for productively implementing a CBL course.
- Share the expertise gained in the faculty learning community with a larger faculty audience. This may include giving a presentation, providing resource materials on the topic, publishing the findings of the work, or other methods agreed upon by the cohort.
Benefits:
- Develop, plan, and implement a CBL course.
- Learn how to engage with community partners productively and how to manage challenges.
- Network with an interdisciplinary group of colleagues.
- Receive a $500 stipend paid at the completion of the program.
To Apply:
Please respond to each of the following questions in 250-300 words per question.
- Why do you want to join this learning community? What do you hope to learn or gain from this experience?
- In what ways, if any, have you participated in community-based learning courses or activities? Why have you decided to engage in CBL at this time?
- What could be a way you could contribute to improving community-based learning at Temple?
Save your application as a Word document or PDF file, and then submit your application using this online form.
The deadline for submissions is May 16. 2025.
Questions? Email Stephanie Fiore, Associate Vice Provost & Sr. Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching, [click-for-email]
