Coupled+pedagogy

**Coupled pedagogy: A study of sustainability education and community-based learning** **in the senior capstone program at Portland State University** Emily Bowling, Civic Engagement & Service Coordinator, Oregon State University [ Emily.Bowling@oregonstate.edu ]  Dilafruz Williams, Professor, Portland State University [ williamsdi@pdx.edu ] **Keywords:** Sustainability education, community-based learning, interdisciplinary, diversity, capstone


 * Track:** Student development and learning


 * Format:** Poster presentation

**Location: **Salon 4 / Salon 9 **Summary:** The fields of community-based learning and sustainability education are linked in their focus on addressing community problems through experiential learning. Yet, scarce research exists that examines the overlap of these formally distinct fields. This empirical study examined the nexus of community-based learning and sustainability education. A sample of five community-based interdisciplinary capstones was examined and instructors were interviewed to obtain their perspectives on the relationship between community-based learning and sustainability education. Three broad themes emerged from the data as common values among instructors: connectedness and relationships; community and place; diversity and inclusiveness. The study found that to achieve meaningful, transformative learning, community-based learning must be coupled with sustainability education.
 * Date & time: **Friday 9:00

Sustainability education coupled with community-based learning provided transformative learning experiences. Skills related to sustainability and civic engagement were similar; both include diversity, communication, collaboration, and addressed change. Engagement in community was a sustainable practice. When taught about sustainability with specific community interests, then the community gained and student learning became relevant and meaningful. While this study concludes that community-based learning is critical to teaching sustainability, the sample size was limited to one institution, hence we cannot generalize. However, it's recommended that the study be replicated on a larger scale and perspectives of students and communities are included for further examination.

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). (2009). AASHE 2009 Annual Report. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Retrieved July 22, 2010 from []
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UNESCO. (2005). United Nations decade of education for sustainable development (2005-2014): Guidelines and recommendations for reorienting teacher education to address sustainability. Retrieved September 15, 2008, from UNESCO Documents and Publications: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001433/143370E.pdf. **Please click here to access a PDF of this page:**  **To download materials from this session please click on the file link(s) below.** [|Bowling--Coupled Pedagogy Handout.pdf]

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