How do you balance academic rigor and community relevance in community-based learning?

1 Define your goals and expectations

The first step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to clearly define your goals and expectations for the course. What are the main learning objectives and outcomes for your students? How do they align with the mission and vision of your department and institution? How do they relate to the core competencies and skills of your discipline? At the same time, what are the goals and expectations of your community partners? How do they define and measure success and impact? How do they communicate and collaborate with you and your students? By clarifying these questions, you can establish a common ground and a shared purpose for your CBL course.

2 Choose appropriate projects and activities

The next step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to choose appropriate projects and activities for your course. Depending on the level, duration, and format of your course, you may opt for different types of CBL projects, such as service-learning, action research, participatory design, or advocacy. The key is to select projects and activities that match the learning objectives and outcomes of your course, as well as the needs and interests of your community partners. You should also consider the feasibility, sustainability, and ethical implications of your projects and activities, and ensure that they follow the principles of reciprocity, respect, and mutual benefit.

3 Integrate theory and practice

The third step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to integrate theory and practice in your course. This means that you should provide your students with adequate theoretical frameworks and concepts to understand and analyze the community issues and contexts they are engaging with, as well as practical tools and methods to apply and evaluate their knowledge and skills in real-world situations. You should also encourage your students to reflect on their CBL experiences and connect them to their academic learning and personal growth. You can use various strategies to facilitate this integration, such as readings, lectures, discussions, case studies, journals, portfolios, or presentations.

4 Assess learning and impact

The fourth step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to assess learning and impact in your course. This means that you should design and implement appropriate assessment methods and criteria to measure the academic learning and the community impact of your CBL course. You should also involve your students and your community partners in the assessment process, and solicit their feedback and input on the strengths and weaknesses of your course. You can use various methods and tools to assess learning and impact, such as rubrics, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or reports.

5 Provide support and guidance

The fifth step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to provide support and guidance for your students and your community partners throughout the course. This means that you should prepare your students and your community partners for the CBL experience, and orient them to the goals, expectations, roles, and responsibilities of the course. You should also monitor and mentor your students and your community partners during the CBL experience, and address any issues or challenges that may arise. You can use various strategies and resources to provide support and guidance, such as workshops, trainings, check-ins, meetings, or online platforms.

6 Celebrate and acknowledge achievements

The sixth step to balance academic rigor and community relevance in CBL is to celebrate and acknowledge achievements in your course. This means that you should recognize and appreciate the contributions and accomplishments of your students and your community partners, and celebrate the learning and impact of your CBL course. You should also share and disseminate the results and outcomes of your CBL course, and highlight the best practices and lessons learned from your CBL experience. You can use various ways to celebrate and acknowledge achievements, such as certificates, awards, events, newsletters, or publications.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?