This type of course shows students that they are an active part of the community that expands beyond the four walls of the University
Dr. Kate Lawless (Centre for Global Studies) is teaching a ‘Community and Global Modernity’ course this year that is bridging the gap between the Huron classroom and the London community.
A third-year course offered through the Centre for Global Studies, this course allows the students enrolled the opportunity to work alongside London sustainability consultants and community members, and to give recommendations for the Green City Strategy of the City of London. Students are conducting research, such as examining case studies of other green city strategies, so that they are better equipped and informed to provide comprehensive recommendations to the city.
Dr. Lawless notes that the course has received a great response from city staff collaborating on the project. Justin Adema (City Planning, City of London) explains that “work on the Green City Strategy is scheduled to get underway later this year, so the timing was perfect for this type of collaboration. My hope is that through this collaboration we will learn about what other cities have done to be more sustainable, and hear ideas about how different initiatives could apply in London.”
Dr. Lawless describes the course as an “integrated experiential learning project” and an “authentic assessment.” She says, “it is a really interesting, hands-on experience for the students because they’re not used to using classroom material in a practical way.” This course exemplifies Huron’s emphasis on experiential and community-based learning, which provides students with real-life applications for the theories and materials that they learn in class.
Dr. Lawless reflects that her course challenges students to ask questions like: “How do I ask research questions that give me an answer that I can then pose as a recommendation or can actually do in the real world?” The course is intended to bridge the academic aspects of the project with things that community members are already doing, in a way that will highlight what kinds of connections can be made between students and the broader London community. She designed the course so that, “the community is able to voice their concerns to students and be taken into account.”
This course offers students opportunities for collaboration and consultantship on a project with tangible outcomes. Adema explains that from the perspective of city staff, “this collaboration has really given us a head start on the work we have to do to related to the strategy, and can serve as a model for future projects.” The course also offers students the chance to strengthen their research, listening, and learning skills and brings awareness of the students’ abilities in what they are able to do for and in the community, “The students bring a certain kind of awareness to the problems in the city like social inequality that may go undetected by the government and may not otherwise be brought to the city,” explains Dr. Lawless.
Want to learn more? The students will be sharing the outcomes of their projects and research process on April 5th from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the London Bicycle Café. This event is open to the public!
Danika Morrison