Undergraduate Research for Community-Building

Amani Elshimiashimi@aucegypt.edu

Center for Learning and TeachingProfessional Development Institute

Workshop objectives

• Define UR• Define CBL• Outline program outcomes• Provide examples of course activities• Discuss learning outcomes• Discuss assessment

Department of Rhetoric Outcomes

• cultivate the habits of critical inquiry, analysis and argument.

• promote research and rhetorical skills for the academic disciplines

• promote research and rhetorical skills for various professional needs

• encourage research to address community problems and injustices

• promote equity and appreciation of diversity among students, faculty and staff

CUR Definition of Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.

Statement developed at a CUR Dialogues workshop in 1997: Wenzel, T. J., “What is Undergraduate Research?,” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 1997, 17, 163.

Community-Based Learning

Combination of faculty-guided community engagement with explicit learning objectives (AUC Definition)

Community-Based Undergraduate Research

Community-Based Undergraduate Research

Students conduct research to answer a question posed by the community organization and disseminate research results to the community.

The Mortgridge Center for Public Service

Examples of CBR

Students in Writing for Publication collected oral narratives of Sudanese Refugees and presented them, in book form, to AUC press. Picture courtesy: Vivian Salama

Examples of CBR

Students gave literacy classes to females in Nekla Village and conducted program assessment of the Literacy Program.

Examples of CBR

Students studied the communities of Establ Antar and El Hadaba El Wosta and wrote grant proposals for 3 NGOs.

Examples of CBR

Students interviewed street children and wrote a project proposal for the establishment of a street soccer camp, trained by Hossam Hassan.

Examples of CBR

Students interviewed the Parents of AUC students and collected funds for ambulance vans on Katameyya Road. A Road Safety project proposal was presented to the Parents Association.

Examples of CBR

Students collected information about water scarcity and water use amongst AUC students and raised awareness using multimodalities – posters, information flyers, social documentary. They wrote research on water issues.

Responsiveness to University Learning Outcomes

• Communication skills(audience sensitivity, multimodality, knowledge creation,

interdisciplinary synthesis) • Thinking skills

(creative problem-solving, critical evaluation)

• Professional skills(career preparation, interpersonal, group work)

• Cultural Competence (personal/social development, authentic learning context)

• Effective Citizenship(service and work values, ethical development)

Assessment

Undergraduate research – public presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference

http://www1.aucegypt.edu/conferences/WPundergrad/

Theme for the 4th Undergraduate Research Conference:“Youth initiatives for Africa and the Middle East: Science, Self and Society.” May 7-8, 2008.

Assessment through reflection:Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle

Group brainstorming

ReferencesOwens, Thomas and Changhua Wang. “Community-Based Learning: A

Foundation for Meaningful Educational Reform.” School Improvement Research Series. 1996. 2007. http://www.nwrel.org/scpd/sirs/10/t008.html

Photo credit:“Soccer Showdown Shakes Shuhada Street.” International Solidarity

Movement. Nov. 28, 2007. http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/11/28/shuhada-soccer/

DK Images databasehttp://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/951/50526321.JPG

Thank you