Faculty workshops help integrate applied learning into courses
The Applied Learning Experiences Faculty Workshop series supports faculty in designing courses to meet the designation requirements in anticipation of the Applied Learning Experiences graduation requirement. This semester, the series kicked off with two workshops: Community-Engaged Learning and Leadership Experiences.
"It's helpful for faculty members to participate in the workshops with the applied learning imperative and requirements being brand new to the university," said Drew Pearl, assistant professor of leadership and community-engaged learning.
During Community-Engaged Learning, participants gained a fundamental understanding of approaches to effective community-engaged teaching and learning.
"Community-engaged learning is intentionally combining academic learning with experiences in and in partnership with the community," said Pearl. "It's taking things that the students are learning in the classroom and applying them to needs or challenges in the community that have been co-identified by the community itself."
Pearl, who led the workshop, said the primary focus of this semester was to develop strategies for incorporating community-engaged learning into faculty's courses.
Claudia Nazario, a teaching assistant professor of Spanish, gained valuable insights from the Community-Engaged Learning workshop. She said the workshop offered some interesting examples of classroom projects that could be implemented.
"We focused on how to use creative activities to reflect or demonstrate our reflections and what we learned from the community service-learning experiences," said Nazario. "I prefer that students engage with projects as opposed to traditional tests and essays. A project example from the workshop I really liked was photo journaling.”
Pearl said that these workshops provide faculty with all the information they need to successfully get their courses approved as applied learning experiences. Adopting best practices in community-engaged learning and applying them to their courses will benefit both students and the community.
Faculty who complete the workshop will receive a $500 stipend and submit a course for ALE designation. A microcredential for faculty who complete the workshop is pending approval. Faculty can also apply for financial support to cover transportation, equipment, and other course-related needs once the course is designated for ALE.
Applied Learning Experiences will announce dates and workshops for next semester's set group of workshop series soon. Learn more about the workshops and how to participate through the Staley School of Leadership.