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Orientation for OrganizationsCommunity organizations in metropolitan San Jose may become community partners of departments, faculty and student "community learners.” The Center for Community Learning & Leadership and its programs facilitates and supports these partnerships. What is Community Learning?Community learning is a teaching method that promotes student learning through active participation in meaningful and planned service experiences in the community that are directly related to course content. Students in many disciplines explore community issues that relate to their courses, find relevance in their academic learning, gain valuable skills, and experience a deepened sense of civic responsibility, social justice, and commitment to the community. Community learning differs from volunteering and community service. Community learners focus not only on the service they provide, but also on the academic and personal learning they gain as a result of that service experience. Community partners work closely with SJSU staff, professors and students to design the service and learning experience. Examples of Community LearningCollege of BusinessManagement information Systems: College of EducationSpecial Education: College of EngineeringCivil Engineering: College of Social ScienceCommunication Studies: College of Social StudiesEnvironmental Studies: College of Applied Science and ArtsGerontology: Who are Community Partners and what do they do?Community partners are nonprofit organizations, public agencies, government offices, schools, and certain private business where students provide community service as an integral part of their academic courses. Service may include direct service with clients, special projects, research, or other activities that are identified by the community partner to meet a real community need. Partners serve as co-educators, engaging students in meaningful service activities that support students’ personal, academic and civic growth. Effective community learning partnerships involve joint planning and ongoing communication among SJSU professors, students and community partners. Successful community learning demands a commitment of energy, planning
and communication from faculty, students and the community partners.
How can community learning benefit community partners?Students are a source of enthusiasm, skills and knowledge and can be a great resource for community partners. Whether the students provide direct service to clients or work on specific, short-term projects for the agency, community learning students get things done! Unlike unaffiliated student volunteers, community learning students are working toward specific goals under the guidance of professors. Faculty and community partners work together to identify meaningful service activities that are appropriate for the skill level and learning objectives of the students involved. The project may engage individual students, small groups or an entire class, depending upon the needs and capacity of the community partners. Becoming a community partner for community learningNew community based agencies, schools, and institutions interested in developing community learning partnerships are encouraged to:
Resources for community partners
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Center for Community Located in Clark Hall 203 and 126C |
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San José State University - Home of the Spartans |