Community/Civic Engagement – Page 5 – L4: Living Lab Learning Library

February 12, 2016

Field Visit, SIMS Municipal Recycling Facility

Sean MacDonald,https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/groups/econ2505-env-econ-fa2015/

Department of Social Science, School of Arts and Sciences

ECON 2505 Environmental Economics, https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/macdonald-mincyteecon2505fall2015/welcome-to-environmental-economics/

Activity Description: Provide a brief description of the activity

Students visited the facility, located on the Brooklyn waterfront in Sunset Park, to get a sense of how to make connections between conducting a research project and observing a site related to research in practice. They were encouraged to think of questions before the visit about the workings of the recycling process, as well as the site’s renewable energy system and artificial reef projects.

Learning Goals: What do you aim to achieve with this activity?

1. Have students document their impressions, thoughts and photographs and to post and share these on Open Lab.
2. Facilitate development of a framework for how to relate place-based research to the semester research project.
3. Make connections between local sustainable environmental practices and their relationship to the economic choices of individuals and businesses.

Timing: At what point in the lesson or semester do you use this activity? How much classroom time do you devote to it? How much out-of-class time is expected?

This activity is usually conducted during the 5th or 6th week of classes after students have obtained a grounding in the concept of place-based research, its purposes and its relevance to the overall research project. The visit is scheduled during class time (typically 1 and ½ hours for the tour and time for students to travel to the site and then back to campus.

Once students have experienced the tour, they are expected to 1) post their informal reflections of new information learned and photographs on the course Open Lab site.
Students are also required to submit a short summary in which they reflect on how the experience could inform their own place-based research

Logistics: What preparation is needed for this activity? What instructions do you give students? Is the activity low-stakes, high-stakes, or something else?

The site visit is scheduled two to three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Students are prepared for the visit through a brief session on informal interviewing techniques. They are also asked to do some prior research on recycling in New York and other cities, and to familiarize themselves with the SIMS website in particular to get an idea of the scope of their operations. This preparation is designed to get students thinking about questions they may have before they even arrive, while providing a context for how they will conduct place-based research on their own projects.

The activity is high-stakes, as it offers a valuable perspective on what it means to conduct place-based research and how that activity fits with the goal of grounding research in the real world. At the same time, it encourages the process of making a valuable connection to the interdisciplinary focus of the class.

High-Impact Educational Practices: Which of these practices based on George Kuh’s High Impact Educational Practices (and other innovative approaches) does this activity incorporate? Choose all that apply.

Collaborative assignments and projects, Open Digital Pedagogy (the OpenLab), Inter/Multidisciplinary Projects, Undergraduate research, Place-Based Learning, Brooklyn Waterfront

Assessment: How do you assess this activity? What assessment measures do you use? Do you use a VALUE rubric? If not, how did you develop your rubric? Is your course part of the college-wide general education assessment initiative?

A formal rubric is not used for this activity; however, the preliminary process of familiarizing students with the concept of place-based research prior to the trip provides a meaningful framework for students to think critically about their own projects.

The course requirements, research and written assignments stress critical thinking, integration of knowledge across disciplines, and the importance of applying diverse perspectives to the understanding of sustainability as it relates to environmental economics.

Reflection: How well did this activity work in your classroom? Would you repeat it? Why or why not? What challenges did you encounter, and how did you address them? What, if anything, would you change? What did students seem to enjoy about the activity?

The first time I conducted this activity, I was impressed by how much students said they both enjoyed the experience and the extent to which they described something they learned about the recycling process itself. …“As people are becoming aware of their environment recycling programs are becoming popular. Earth cannot sustain current human population at the rate we are extracting resources from it… It’s pretty amazing and fascinating exactly how a bottle on a store shelf can be … recycled into another product… I have always seen recycle[d] garbage placed in various places near supermarkets but I never knew what happens after that.”

Students even make new discoveries about their own communities. One remarked that “Growing up living in Brooklyn along the neighborhoods of Sunset Park and Bay Ridge I never knew the 30th Street Pier in the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal even existed.”

Each semester, the site chosen for the class place-based field visit is changed. The assignment prior to the visit – requiring students to research the site and to think about questions they have – is similar. This process has been valuable in helping students gain some familiarity with the site and in challenging students to think about what more they want to explore and learn.

Overall, the place-based activity has proven to be a valuable means of actively engaging students in the learning process. They are curious, ask thoughtful questions and often come away from the experience with a clearer idea of the value of place-based research for their own projects.

Additional Information: Please share any additional comments and further documentation of the activity – e.g. assignment instructions, rubrics, examples of student work, etc. These could be in the form of PDF or Word files, links to posts or files on the OpenLab, etc.

https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/macdonald-mincyteecon2505fall2015/2015/11/18/sims-municipal-recycling-centeron/
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/macdonald-mincyteecon2505fall2015/2015/11/17/sims-municipal-recycling-trip-2/
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/macdonald-mincyteecon2505fall2015/policies/#comment-138

October 12, 2015January 4, 2018

Court Observation and Report

Kerin E. Coughlin

Law and Paralegal Sudies/ SPS

LAW 1103

Activity Description: Provide a brief description of the activity

Students will attend and observe a civil trial or hearing in a New York civil trial court (such as New York Supreme Court) for at least two hours, alone or in small groups. After the observation, each student shall:
1. post a short reaction on our course OpenLab site (to be constructed), as a preview of what they learned and to provide guidance and encouragement to fellow students who have not yet completed their observations, e.g., to note positive responses they received from court staff, or days/times when many trials and hearings occur, or future proceedings students may want to attend; etc.; and
2. draft a letter to a client of the (imaginary) law firm for which the student works, who will soon participate in the New York civil court system for the first time as a party to a litigation. The purpose of the letter is to prepare the client for her/his experience by explaining how our civil court system works and what the client should expect, based on the student’s knowledge obtained in our course and her/his observation of the proceeding; and
3. give a 3-5 minute oral presentation about her/his observation to the class.

Learning Goals: What do you aim to achieve with this activity?

Students will conduct independent research to identify and locate a court proceeding to observe, and to learn individual courts’ and judges’ rules (e.g., if cell phones are permitted, etc.).
1. Students’ thinking about their academic and career goals will be informed, including by:
o witnessing first-hand what one type of legal practice in which they will probably work at some point – civil litigation – is really like; and
o interacting with legal practitioners and court employees.
2. Students will be able to relate what they learned in the classroom (e.g., rules of civil court procedure) to actual practice. Hopefully, this will enable them to recognize/appreciate the reasons behind such rules and other concepts we have learned.
3. Students will be able to communicate what they have observed and learned to others, orally and in writing.
4. Students will come to appreciate the value of teamwork in learning, including by encouraging other students and benefiting from others’ encouragement.
5. Students will achieve an understanding and appreciation of what it means that courts are a “public entity,” through the experience of being fully entitled to enter a courthouse and attend proceedings freely.

Timing: At what point in the lesson or semester do you use this activity? How much classroom time do you devote to it? How much out-of-class time is expected?

I will reference this activity at the beginning of the semester, as a preview. I will introduce it in detail at the start of the second half of the semester, after we have covered a significant amount of the curriculum. Students must complete the assignment by a few weeks before the end of the semester.
I will devote about one total class session (1.25 hours) to assigning and providing guidance on the activity: about half a class when I first assign it, and occasional discussions thereafter as needed (e.g., if students bring issues to my attention that warrant addressing with the whole class.). I will also spend as much time as needed outside class working with individual students on the assignment. At the end of the semester, we will devote 2-3 class sessions to students’ oral presentations on their observations. Students are expected to devote 5 to 8 hours of out-of-class time, including researching and identifying proceedings to observe; observing proceedings for at least two hours; drafting OpenLab posts and letters; and preparing oral presentations.

Logistics: What preparation is needed for this activity? What instructions do you give students? Is the activity low-stakes, high-stakes, or something else?

Preparation includes general instruction throughout the semester on civil court procedural rules (the topic of the course) and specific instruction on the activity (described above, under “Timing”). Instructions include a detailed handout (letter to students) and oral discussions with the class and with individual students (also described under “Timing”).

First-year seminars and experiences, Service- or community-based learning, Place-Based Learning, Collaborative assignments and projects, Diversity and global learning (“difficult differences”)

I will assess this activity by evaluating students’ OpenLab posts, letters, and oral presentations, according to rubrics to be established. Evaluation will be included in grade calculation.

These issues will be addressed after I have used the assignment with my students.

September 26, 2015January 5, 2018

Academic Service Learning with Architectural Students

Jason Montgomery: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/members/jmontgomery07/profile/edit/group/3/

Dept. of Architectural Technology School of Technology and Design

ARCH 1130 Building Technology I https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/montgomeryarch1130fall2013/

Activity Description: Provide a brief description of the activity

For this course section in the fall of 2013 I developed an Academic Service Learning project that became the major project for that semester. The project was focused on the Red Hook Winery in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a waterfront business that was badly damaged during Superstorm Sandy. The overarching goal of the project was to document the property, learn of the problems inherent to the property and its location, and to provide the business owner with ideas to protect the business from future storm events that may cause flooding.

Learning Goals: What do you aim to achieve with this activity?

In addition to the course learning objectives, there were four learning objectives identified specifically for this project:
1. Develop an understanding of the value of service and engagement in a local community. (Gen Ed)
2. Generate clear and concise talking points to guide oral presentations at community meetings. (Gen Ed)
3. Apply professional skills in real life situations. (Skill)
4. Understand and apply resilient construction techniques. (Skill)

Timing: At what point in the lesson or semester do you use this activity? How much classroom time do you devote to it? How much out-of-class time is expected?

This project ran from week 7-week 15 of the semester. The lecture series during the course of the project was adjusted so that the lectures supported the project work. A few lecture topics were adjusted to better align with the project.

The project work consumed 50% of class time during the course of the 9 weeks. The students were required to continue drawing work outside of class, usually spending 5 hours per week outside class time. Also, some students spent out of class time re-visiting the site to more carefully document existing conditions.

Logistics: What preparation is needed for this activity? What instructions do you give students? Is the activity low-stakes, high-stakes, or something else?

The most important preparation for this activity, and the most challenging, is to identify and negotiate with a community partner that fits with the context and content of the course. As it can be difficult to find a willing partner, it is important to be creative; for example other faculty, students, an/or staff could become the community partner for the project.

The instructor needs to help the students understand the professionalism required when they are presenting themselves to the community partner. The instructor also needs to help the students manage the process in order to ensure the project goals are met on schedule, as the stakes for this type of project are higher than normal. The higher stakes can become a source of stress during the process, but also can enhance the students’ recognition of the accomplishment, the skills they learned, and the value of the experience. (See post-project student reflections on the OpenLab home page.)

First-year seminars and experiences, Collaborative assignments and projects, Open Digital Pedagogy (the OpenLab), Service- or community-based learning, Place-Based Learning, Brooklyn Waterfront

This project required multiple rubrics. One rubric measured the students drawing work, including their documentation of existing conditions as well as their design proposals. In addition, the project required teamwork and oral presentation to the community partner. These were assessed with the Value Rubrics for Teamwork and Oral Communication. This course was not part of a general college-wide assessment initiative, but it was part of the Living Lab Third Year Fellowship.

This activity had a positive result for the students and the community partner. The community partner was very appreciative of the student effort to provide site documentation as well as their creativity in their proposals to protect from flooding. The post project student reflections were on the whole positive, with many students very appreciative to have the opportunity to work with a client, gaining a real life scenario experience.

I have repeated this process in another course that I teach with Prof. Michael Duddy, ARCH 4710 Urban Design Studio, where the students have worked on projects with community partners.

Examples of student work and photos of presentation at the community partner:
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/montgomeryarch1130fall2013/academic-service-project/

September 25, 2015January 4, 2018

Walking Tour of Brooklyn Heights

Susan Philip

Hospitality management/SPS

Urban Tourism HMGT 4987

Activity Description: Provide a brief description of the activity

The entire class goes on a walking tour of Brooklyn Heights using the Brooklyn Historical Society’s self-guided walking tour of the neighborhood. In addition, students go on a scavenger hunt, developed by Prof. Karen Goodlad, assistant professor in Hospitality Management, in which they work in groups to find specific objects during the tour and take photos of them. Photos are shared on Blackboard and on OpenLab. Students write a reflection of the experience.

Learning Goals: What do you aim to achieve with this activity?

1. Understand the history of Brooklyn Heights
2. Assess the resources for tourism in the neighborhood (and later compare it to that of their own neighborhoods)
3. Experience a walking tour
4. Work in teams

Timing: At what point in the lesson or semester do you use this activity? How much classroom time do you devote to it? How much out-of-class time is expected?

This activity is done in the first two-three weeks of the semester. The entire class period.

Logistics: What preparation is needed for this activity? What instructions do you give students? Is the activity low-stakes, high-stakes, or something else?

Students are given materials to read about the neighborhood before the tour and an assignment to answer questions from the reading that is due in class the day of the tour. The walking tour activity is both low stakes and high stakes: Students really enjoy the experience. It is usually the first walking tour they have ever taken. In addition, they build on the experience to complete their term projects (group) to create a themed walking tour. Students also begin to observe the campus area, their neighborhoods and the city. After the tour, they start to take notice the cultural heritage of neighborhoods, for example.

Brooklyn waterfront; Place-based learning; Interdisciplinary projects

Students write a reflection of the experience. There is no rubric for the assignment but I have developed a rubric for the final walking tour project.

The activity is very successful and I have been doing it for several semesters. A highlight of the tour is the discovery of the Promenade by students who have never seen it before. Each semester, there are many students who have never been to Brooklyn Heights, and they are surprised at the beauty of the neighborhood and its rich history. And that it is close from campus, but far. They are amazed when the walk down Montague reveals the Promenade. (I liken it to how the walk down that narrow path reveals Petra.) The walking tour experience is the basis for the students to develop their own themed walking tours of the campus area. They begin to observe what they see around them and learn from it. Students are highly engaged in this fun and informative activity and build on it.

Students’ pictures from the Walking Tour: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/8a74dk1a62mw86r/AACgxRM9-WRG7VjJhG3IsNY0a?oref=e

Example of students’ presentation: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/urban-tourism-city-tech/files/2014/02/Walking-tour-Downtown-Brooklyn-Fall-2013.pdf

Category: Community/Civic Engagement

Court Observation and Report

Academic Service Learning with Architectural Students

Walking Tour of Brooklyn Heights

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The OpenLab at City Tech:A place to learn, work, and share

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