Community-Based Pedagogical Strategies with Students

Community-based learning offers a multitude of benefits by deepening curriculum content while also providing opportunities to engage in the community through service and action. The purpose of this chapter is to highlight four community-based pedagogical approaches for K-16 classrooms. First, the pedagogical approach of independent investigation is utilized in a case involving elementary students seeking to address standards of care for animals at a local zoo. Next, Action Civics is explored in the context of providing middle-level students opportunities to identify a community issue, conduct research on the root causes, and propose solutions for change. Justice-oriented citizenship is another method discussed in which middle and secondary students participate in a public demonstration project where they marched to increase awareness about child hunger. In the final case, transdisciplinary learning is used in teaching college-level students how to examine local water quality issues and associated community concerns. From the cases presented and the extent of educational research demonstrating the value of this type of pedagogical approach, community-based pedagogical strategies can be recommended as a primary tool in educational spaces for transforming learning for students.