Information for Lecturers / Project Co-ordinators

If you are new to this area, and would like to get involved, whether or not you have an idea for a project, we would like to help you get started. 

For a 15-minute crash-course introduction to the principles and benefits of community-based learning, including two case studies from DIT modules, and a list of trigger questions to get you started, you might want to watch this video, a presentation from the Learning Innovation Network conference 2011 by Catherine Bates, on behalf of the Programme. 

If you are already running a project involving students learning with communities, we would love to hear from you, as we would like to publicise your work on this website. We would also like to support you in whatever way we can to continue this great work. 

What we can do for you:

  • We can meet with you to discuss or brainstorm a project idea
  • We can offer advice on adapting existing modules and writing up new modules to incorporate Students Learning With Communities
  • We will do our best to make links for you with an appropriate community group to partner with you on the project
  • We provide resources that may be useful to you on our website
  • We will promote your project on our website - see the variety of projects on our webpages already
  • We will do our best to facilitate any training needs you might have with respect to SLWC work - also check our News page for details of upcoming training and seminars 
  • We will provide you with assistance and support in preparing your students for reflection on their learning during the project 
  • We will add you to our mailing list for appropriate funding and conference opportunities and we will send you updates on possible project ideas from communities
  • We will invite you to participate in our Students Learning With Communities Practice Group and Summer School
  • We can link you in with other DIT lecturers for interdisciplinary projects that you might be interested in getting involved in - such as College Awareness of Road Safety or The LifeLine Project.
  • We will celebrate your work and the work of your students and community partners on Students Learning With Communities projects at our annual awards ceremony.   

You and your students will benefit from projects where students learn with communities. This methodology has been shown to increase retention of students on their courses, to increase their employability after graduation, and to enhance their student experience. We have yet to meet a lecturer who has tried community-based learning and hasn’t wanted to continue using it!