Connecting Communities and Curriculum
May 2013
On May 30th, academic staff, students and community partners came together to celebrate the integration of community needs into the curriculum. Instances of service-learning in eight disciplines and all faculties were celebrated in a poster showcase launched by the College Registrar in the Innovation Academy of Trinity College Dublin.
In Trinity College it is our mission to, through our research and teaching, ‘engage students and society in the quest for knowledge, seeking to achieve excellence in all we do, and responding with creativity and imagination to the challenges and opportunities of a shared future.’ (Trinity College Dublin Strategic Plan 2009-2014.) One of the ways in which we do this is through the integration of service-learning into the curriculum.
Service-learning is a course-based, credit-bearing educational experience in which students a) participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs, and b) reflect on the service activity in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of personal values and civic responsibility." (Bringle & Hatcher 1995)
The posters, which can be downloaded below, showcased the following modules:
- Community Learning and Reflective Practice in Northern Ireland (PDF 909KB), Dr. Gladys Ganiel of the Irish School of Ecumenics
- Social Enterprise in Northern Ireland (PDF 577KB), Dr. Denise Crossan of the School of Business
- Chemistry Outreach Module (PDF 762KB), Dr. Paula Colavita and Professor Sylvia Draper of the School of Chemistry
- Contribution to Society Module (PDF 834KB), Dr. Catherine McCabe of the School of Nursing and Midwifery
- CONNECTing with the Community & Aphasia Advocacy for Access (PDF 554 KB), Dr. Caroline Jagoe of the Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies
- Universal Design Innovation (PDF 957KB), Dr. Gareth Bennett of the School of Engineering
- Study of Occupation Practice (PDF 273KB), Ms. Sarah Quinn and Dr. Siobhan MacCobb of the School of Medicine
- Knowledge Shop Pilot in Sociology (PDF 257 KB), six sociology students undertook final year research dissertations in response to community generated project briefs question. Each participating community organisation, student and academic supervisor and Dr. Barbara Bradby in particular deserve recognition for engaging in this pilot.
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