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Engagement in Practice: Reflections on Remote Community-Engaged Learning in the Context of a Multilateral International Partnership

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

Community Engagement Division Technical Session 4- COVID and Virtual Learning

Page Count

8

DOI

10.18260/1-2--41577

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/41577

Download Count

231

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Paper Authors

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Patrick Sours The Ohio State University

biography

Howard Greene The Ohio State University

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Howard Greene directs K-12 Education Outreach for the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University, bringing a rich array of university research and teaching intersections to the K-12 community. Specifically, Howard’s work seeks to improve awareness of engineering careers and academic preparation in K-12 and to build the skills of career ambassadorship in OSU undergraduate students. Howard assists faculty in forming education plans and broader impacts portions of their National Science Foundation (NFS) proposals. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Metro Early College High School, a diverse and non-selective STEM high school on OSU campus and actively seeks to bring collaborations that augment Metro programs and curricula. At OSU Howard has led several cross-disciplinary international service learning programs that seek to work with communities in developing sustainable innovations that improve the human condition, while developing undergraduate students by exposing them to authentic and transformative applications of their education.

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Abstract

The worldwide pandemic presented unique challenges to community engaged learning in the University setting. In particular, service-learning and Humanitarian Engineering programs typically culminating in student travel had those components cancelled. Even collaborations with local partners were challenged with fewer in-person events and reduced communication channels. Over the past few years, University X has forged an international partnership with University Y (Latin American Country) that focuses on engaged learning and community development through intensive planning and the building of trusting, mutually beneficial relationships. In Spring 2021, the associated course and program transitioned to a COIL (Collaborative Online Interaction Learning) format, wherein students from University X and University Y were able to meet online in teams and engage virtually with community and in-country NGO partners to address community driven projects. Students formulated and conducted interviews and focus groups to assess existing practices related to water management. With community dialog, and in the framework of asset-based community development, students were able to develop and present options related to water catchment, harvesting and safety. While not without challenges, this course was the first of its kind for partner institutions and ran successfully with emphasis on student engagement and relationship building across cultural and language differences. Through meaningful collaboration and improved partnership dynamics, a balance between student learning outcomes and benefit to partner organizations was achieved without sending inexperienced students into a community to “solve problems” and leave half-completed, non-community-owned initiatives. The challenges and successes of an international university partnership is described, while offering perspectives and insights from university and NGO partners. The program was structured so that students could have cultural experiences without travel. The aim of this work is to share a proposed model of engagement for others interested in offering COIL courses and collaborating on Humanitarian Engineering projects with international partners.

Sours, P., & Greene, H. (2022, August), Engagement in Practice: Reflections on Remote Community-Engaged Learning in the Context of a Multilateral International Partnership Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41577

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