creating community connection creating community...promotes service education and social action...
TRANSCRIPT
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTION WITH CITY-BASED LEARNING
Melanie Harris, M. Ed. Academic Counselor Georgia State University
Annual Conference for the First-Year Experience | Dallas, TX | February 2015
OBJECTIVES
Describe Georgia State University’s (GSU) Atlanta-Based Learning (ABL) program
Analyze feedback provided from first-year students who participated in ABL during the fall 2014 semester
Brainstorm ideas for implementation and improvement amongst various university/college settings
WHO’S IN THE AUDIENCE?
INSTITUTIONAL TYPE
Community College Large-size
Minority-Serving Institution
Small-size Mid-size
For-profit Institution
Public Private
NUMBER OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS
0-500
1501-2000
501-1000 1000-1500
2001-2500
3000+ 2501-3000
ATLANTA-BASED LEARNING
GSU BACKGROUND
The overarching goal of Georgia State University as it enters its second century is to be recognized as a
dynamic academic community where teaching and research combine to
produce leaders and create solutions to conquer the challenges of the 21st
century.
–Strategic Plan 2011-16/21
FIRST-YEAR PROGRAMS BACKGROUND
Freshmen Learning
Communities
GSU 1010: New Student
Orientation
Atlanta-Based
Learning
Peer Mentors First-Year Book Early Alert
WHAT IS ATLANTA-BASED LEARNING?
Atlanta-Based Learning (ABL) promotes service education and social action within the Atlanta community. The program seeks to maximize the urban educational experience in the first year of study by having students participate in or seek out structured opportunities to learn more about
social issues that affect the city and to be a part of the solution to the societal
problems at hand.
FRAMEWORK • Walking tour of Georgia State Campus • Walking tour of Atlanta
Learn About (Settings)
• Tour Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) • Meet with Central Atlanta Progress leaders regarding
downtown urban development issues
Learn From (Systems)
• Interview a community member who experienced Brown v. Board of Education
• Read to local children to improve literacy skills
Learn With (Communities)
• Plant trees in the downtown Atlanta area • Work closely with non-profit agency to design
business plan
Learn By Service-Learning
STRUCTURE
Requirements
• Service site must be within Atlanta city limits or in an area with an Atlanta zip code
• Service commitment must be 4 hours in length
• Service sites must be approved by GSU 1010 instructor PRIOR to service completion
Reflection
• Introduce your service site, describe the purpose the organization serves in the community, and provide an overview of what you did during your time with the agency.
• How did your work help the organization meet its purpose and serve others better?
• What skills did you use during your service, and how can those skills be used in your anticipated career? How are you able to use your time as a Georgia State University student to be involved in meeting the needs of others within the Atlanta community? How might you engage political leaders to address the issue(s) addressed?
• Provide your overall thoughts on the experience.
PARTNERSHIP
Office of Civic Engagement
MedShare Gateway Center Oakland Cemetery Safe House Outreach Atlanta Community Food Bank Truly Living Well Urban Garden
Planned Trips
FINDINGS & IMPLICATIONS Atlanta-Based Learning
ASSESSMENT
Pre-Test Post-Test
RESULTS
Certainty of undergraduate major
Community service gives me valuable experience for my
resume
I value the importance of giving back to my
community
I am likely to participate regularly in community
service in the future
I will seek out an opportunity to do
community service while at GSU
Pre-Test
Post-Test
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
RESULTS
0 50 100 150 200 250
This experience caused me to think about my own attitudes, values, and perspectives
This experience caused me to feel more concern towards social problems in my community
I have developed significant relationships with other students through my participation in ABL
I want to continue doing community service at the agency
Overall, I was very satisfied with the quality of my ABL experience
Post-Test
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
TESTIMONIALS
“I like that we got to choose our own community service activities.” “I wish I invited friends to come along.”!
“It was a nice, enjoyable experience and I hope to continue volunteering in the city of Atlanta and beyond!”
“Having a volunteer opportunity for all students to do together.” “I listened to someone share their experiences which will help me to go out and serve my community and participate in future
programs”!
BRAIN DUMP ¢ What do you think is the value of a city-based learning program?
¢ What are potential drawbacks from a city-based learning program?
¢ Ideally, what would you like to assess before, during, or after a city-based learning program?
¢ How could you implement a similar program in a rural area?
¢ What would you do differently?
¢ How would you hold instructors or peer mentors/leaders accountable?
The transfer of a large quantity of information from one person to
another or to a piece of paper can be referred to as a 'brain dump‘.
IN THE FUTURE…
• Greater flexibility
• Improved connections with agencies
• Marketing and promotional materials
• Create civic engagement presentation to be integrated into GSU 1010 course
• No paper evaluations
• Online Module
• Pre-planned and reliable transportation
Questions?
