Sustainable Community-Based Learning: Engaging Undergraduates Across a Four-Year General Education Curriculum
Published In
Sustainable Solutions: Let Knowledge Serve the City
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
This chapter describes how University Studies at Portland State University scaffolds student community engagement in sustainability-related courses across a four-year general education curriculum. We argue that the role of community engagement in a course should parallel both developing student understanding of complex sustainability issues and student capacity to apply that knowledge to multiple contexts. Learning about sustainability issues inspires an eagerness among students in first and second year courses “to do something” to make the world a better place. In these courses, assigned community-engagement projects nurture that eagerness while providing a supportive and structured platform where students develop their abilities to analyze sustainability-related issues, assess the implications of action for diverse stakeholders, and communicate across differences in values and cultures. Through these transformative projects students develop a deeper understanding of course content, build a better understanding of the complexities of meaningful and responsible community engagement, and gain transferable knowledge and skills.
Rights
Published by Greenleaf Publishing
Locate the Document
DOI
10.9774/GLEAF.9781783534012_5
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/27891
Citation Details
Fitzmaurice, C., Estes, J.R., & Gerding, J. (2016). Sustainable community-based learning: engaging undergraduates across a four-year general education curriculum. In B.D. Wortham-Galvin, J. Allen, & J. Sherman (Eds.), Sustainable Solutions: Let Knowledge Serve the City. Leeds, UK: Greenleaf Publishing.
Description
Published by Greenleaf Publishing