ALS 3200

Leadership and Global Service Learning - Pre Fieldwork Course

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.

This pre-fieldwork course examines leadership and global service-learning (GSL) themes and provides students a forum for critical reflection on community-driven service, intercultural learning, power and privilege, global citizenship, and each of the listed components' relationships to one another. The pre-fieldwork seminar draws on best practices in community-engaged learning and research to develop the personal, professional and academic skill necessary for effective intercultural immersion while in a host community. Themes covered are personal values and ethics, professional etiquette working with diverse communities and organizations, project planning, critical reflection and community engagement in a cross-cultural context. Preparation includes the development of skills in critical reflection in order to document, communicate and apply what has been learned from the field experience. The course is intended for any student undertaking study abroad, fieldwork, and community engagement in the near future. ALS 3200 is one credit course and students are required to attend all five sessions. Students have an option of taking ALS 3210, Leadership and Global Service Learning – Post Fieldwork Course for 1 credit in the fall as an opportunity to reflect on their fieldwork experience and further apply their learning upon return.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: students must undertake study abroad, fieldwork, research, internship or community engaged service-learning (in the US or in another country) by the end of the calendar year or have permission of instructor.

• Intercultural Learning: Students engage in active, meaningful participation in the life of the host community. Learning Outcomes: • Contrast home and host culture dominant norms, behaviors, and assumptions. • Employ enhanced knowledge of home and host culture to behave appropriately in host community and develop connections with community members. • Identify and describe home cultural assumptions that are enabling and limiting. • Demonstrate understanding of self as a cultural being.
• Critical Reflection: Students develop critical thinking skills by examining diverse perspectives on course topics and comparing these perspectives across cultures and through the lens of the host community. Learning Outcomes: • Assess the relevance of course content to host community perspectives and experiences. • Communicate the relevance of disciplinary content, intercultural learning, and global civic engagement strategies for host and home communities. • Identify sources of learning during the course experience; assess the strengths and weaknesses of those sources.

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