OCEL supports PBL: Project, Practice, Problem-Based Learning

PBL describes coursework that is interdisciplinary and collaborative. PBL courses encourage analysis, evaluation, and critical thinking skills through real-life application. By the end of the course, this applied learning often results in outcomes relevant to campus and community stakeholders. 

OCEL supports PBL efforts by connecting faculty with community partners in order to build a long-lasting, mutually-beneficial partnership over time. Take a look at some current engaged-PBL partnerships and their related activities below.

1. Community Connected PBL:
In Community Connected courses students will: 

• gain skills communicating and interacting with those outside of the campus community.
• develop networks and professional relationships with those outside of the campus community
• reflect on their own potential to positively contribute to society through civic engagement

These could show in courses by including:

      a. An introduction to interacting with community partners and organizations
      b. Could establish a foundation for future partnership work 

Examples include: inviting a guest speaker, taking a field trip, other single activities

2. Community Engaged PBL: 

In Community Engaged PBL courses students will:

• develop the capacity to examine the world through the lens of equity and justice, and to act as engaged citizens
• gain the ability to understand and articulate their own assumptions about helping others and the potential limitations of providing “solutions” to others.
• understand the needs and perspectives of various stakeholders within and external to campus and develop mutually beneficial projects with community partners

These could show in courses by including:

     a. Rooted in mutual benefit and a commitment to sustaining a partnership
     b. Involves a major project, scaffolds activities, or structures the whole course (50-100%)

Examples include: developing business plans alongside vendors at Eastern Market, working with a nonprofit  to streamline their communications strategy, other mutually beneficial activities

Did you know that OCEL staff host in-class workshops for Community-Connected and Community-Engaged courses? Contact Molly ([email protected]) or Elspeth ([email protected]) to book one for your class today. See current offerings below - we are happy to curate workshop topics to fit the content of your course. 

Workshop #1: Entering Community (The Why)

• Best practices for community engagement
• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career preparation

Workshop #2: Nuts and Bolts (The How)

• Collaborative project management with community partners
• Logistics and conflict resolution

Workshop #3: Systemic Power (The What)

• Interactive workshop, "Star Power"
• Explores institutional and systemic power dynamics

OCEL Student Workshops flyer available upon request: [email protected]