Kari Giordano – Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching 2020

Community
Collaboration
Sociology is at the heart of successful place-based
pedagogy. The African proverb “it takes a village to raise
a child” takes on more relevance when teaching and
learning enters the larger community. The idea also works
quite well in reverse. A complete place-based education
not only teaches students about their fellow past, present,
and future community members, but encourages their
engagement and commitment to the people in their
community. Utilizing a village of engaged citizens in a
collaborative spirit improves the lives of all involved. Collaboration
isn’t an easy task and relies on all stake-holders
to be fully on-board.
The following ideas provide opportunities for students to
be enriched by the people in their communities and for
the communities to be enriched by their students through
collaborative efforts.
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