Unit name | Community Engagement: Theory into Practice |
---|---|
Unit code | ENGL10059 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Mrs. Thomas-Hughes |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
none |
Co-requisites |
none |
School/department | Department of English |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Community Engagement: Theory into Practice is the second in a series of cumulative units which aim to prepare and support students in the development, execution and critical evaluation of individual community-engaged projects as part of their undergraduate studies on the English Literature and Community Engagement BA.
The unit aims to introduce students to a variety of ways in which ‘community’ and ‘engagement’ can be understood as concepts. Students will be introduced to a range of theoretical perspectives from disciplines including education and sociology which will inform their understandings of community engagement as a concept and practice.
Community engagement is a practice-led discipline and students are expected, as a core part of this unit, to commit at least 30 hours to the development and execution of their own community engaged project. This will include the development of a project plan. Practice will be evidenced through students’ reflective journals, an assessed presentation, and the submission of project plans.
The unit will have a substantial focus on how community engagement theory can inform community engagement practise. Focus will include topics such as participation and power, representation and cultural dominance, and the ethics of community engagement.
The unit will explore how experiential knowledge (students' own knowledge and that of their community partners and members) can be engaged to support community-engaged projects.
Aims
Students are expected to keep a reflective journal as part of this unit. They will be supported in journaling through the setting of regular reflective tasks. The unit includes a midway submission point where students will have the opportunity to submit and receive feedback on a 500-1000-word sample from their journal.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is normally taught through a series of 3-hour seminars delivered across the academic year. Seminars utilise a range of teaching methods including lectures, practical-activities and small group dicussion. Seminars are supported by a range of asynchronous learning activities. As part of this unit students have access to a one-to-one mentor who will support and guide thier development of a communtiy engaged project. Students also typically have access to two Saturday writing re-treats which provide a guided space for developing their academic writing skills.
1 x presentation and peer Q & A on CE project plan/activity. To include hard-copy submission of CE project-plan of up to 2500 word [ILOs: 1-5] 100%
Bolton, Gillie. Reflective practice: Writing and professional development. Sage publications, 2010.
Clark, Christina, and Kate Rumbold. "Reading for Pleasure: A Research Overview." National Literacy Trust (2006).
Hooks, Bell, 1952. Teaching Community: a Pedagogy of Hope. New York: Routledge, (2003).
Johnson, Fran & Helen Thomas-Hughes. 2020. Community Engagement Handbook, Theory into Practice: BILT, University of Bristol.