Community-Based Instruction

This gateway to Community-Based Transformational Learning (CBTL) allows students to work with and through local organizations to accomplish a specific task or set of tasks; or to expose or deepen students’ experiences with groups or social systems with salient needs.  These experiences enrich the students’ understanding of themes such as wellness, poverty, privilege and cultural competence. 

What makes community-based instruction unique?   

  • The purpose is generally to offer students opportunities to work with local organizations to accomplish specific, content related tasks
  • These experiences usually require that students have an emerging disciplinary proficiency
  • Students can expect to spend a minimum of 15-30 hours working with the community over the course of a semester
  • Community-based instruction is a performance based model where grades are tied to the student’s ability to carry out specific, content-related tasks
  • Community-based instruction generally serves as a bridge between introductory forms of community-based learning (outreach, volunteering and immersion) and advanced forms of community-based learning (apprenticeships, internships and research)
  • Interaction with the community is typically recurrent and more prolonged
  • Most faculty find that community-based instruction experiences require multiple opportunities for reflection (including pre-flection) for students to adequately process their academic and cultural development via the experience.

What are some of the common forms of community-based instruction?

  • Capstone Projects
  • Civic Engagement Projects
  • Learning Communities (some forms)
  • Public Awareness/Education Activities
  • Service-learning (both thematic and project)

I want to create my own community-based instruction experience.  Where can I find support?

There are several offices and departments at UNF to assist you in successfully developing and integrating specific aspects of your community-based instruction program.