Community-engaged pedagogy (CEP) invites students to connect their academic knowledge and skills to people, events, and issues in their local/international communities.
Opportunities for structured reflection before, during, and/or after the experience will help students to articulate and deepen their learning.
- For support planning community-based activities, see Community Engaged Pedagogy
- For help finding community partners, visit the Hub for Good
Learn more:
- Benefits of CEP for student engagement (Report)
- Perceived barriers and support to CEP (Report)
- Carleton’s Community Engaged Pedagogy (CEP) group’s proposal for how best to promote CEP goals at Carleton and in the local community (Report)
Community-Based Learning
Community-based learning activities invite students to make direct connections between experiences in their local community or internationally and course content.
Locally, students can attend and take field notes on community events, conduct interviews with community members and professionals, or visit sites of interest and relevance to their courses (e.g., museums, galleries, monuments). In all cases, students should have opportunities for structured reflection before, during, and/or after the experience.
Internationally, students can participate in international experiences or exchange programs abroad. Students who travel to other countries and immerse themselves in their communities have the unique opportunity to learn authentically and profoundly about the world’s diverse cultures, histories, issues, and languages.
Learn more about Carleton’s international experiences and exchange programs
Community-Based Research
Community-based research includes engagement in research projects that result from the collaboration between the instructor and community partners. The research is relevant to the community members and takes place within the community. Such projects can be time-intensive, and so are best reserved for full-year, 6-credit courses.
Learn more about Community Engaged Pedagogy at Carleton
Find community projects through the Hub for Good
See Trent University’s community-based research modules
Community Service Learning
Community service learning provides students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have acquired in their course to address issues in the community. For example, students can volunteer at a shelter or food bank, or support students with learning disabilities in local schools. Community service learning should directly benefits the community partner.
Students can benefit from applying their academic skills and knowledge to deepening their understanding of vulnerable populations, studying complex social issues, and strengthening their critical thinking and leadership skills.
Learn more about community service learning
Read about the principles of good practice in community service learning