Benefits of Community-Engaged Learning

Faculty can benefit personally and professionally from integrating engaged learning into courses. Teaching with engaged learning can:

  • encourage interactive teaching methods and reciprocal learning between students and faculty
  • add new insights and dimensions to class discussions
  • lead to new avenues for research and publication
  • promote students' active learning; engage students with different learning styles
  • promote students' opportunities to directly apply course content to theory, thus creating a deeper level of understanding
  • develop students' civic and leadership skills
  • boost course enrollment by attracting highly motivated and engaged students
  • provide networking opportunities with engaged faculty in other disciplines
  • foster relationships between faculty and 91社区 area community organizations, which can open other opportunities for collaborative work
  • provide firsthand knowledge of community issues; provide opportunities to be more involved in community issues

Below is a list of resources that illustrate how integrating engaged learning into the classroom can benefit faculty, students and community:

  • Driscoll, A., Holland, B., Gelmon, S., & Kerrigan, S. (1996). . Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 3(1), 66-71.
  • Eyler, J., Giles, Jr., D. E., Stenson, C. M., & Gray, C. J. (2001). . Vanderbilt University.
  • Moely, B. E., McFarland, M., Miron, D., Mercer, S., Ilustre, V. (2002). . Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 9, 18-26.