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A participatory approach to service-learning in creative arts education: a win-win learning opportunity for campus and community?
Author(s) -
Lesley Wood,
Merna Meyer
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0259-479X
DOI - 10.17159/i65a02
Subject(s) - service learning , citizen journalism , the arts , participatory action research , thematic analysis , experiential learning , sociology , pedagogy , public relations , psychology , qualitative research , computer science , political science , social science , law , world wide web , anthropology
Service-learning has been shown to be effective in preparing students to live and work in adiverse and rapidly changing society, especially when it is based on a democraticpartnership between university students and community participants, resulting in mutuallybeneficial learning. Yet, in cases where the community is often regarded as less equal due todebilitating socio-economic circumstances, there is a real danger the engagement turns intomore of a charity rendering experience, rather than promoting deep learning for allinvolved. This article reports on our attempts to create a service-learning experience thatallowed students and community youth to learn with and from each other. Data weregenerated in four cycles of a participatory action research design, using visual, art andtext-based strategies. The thematic analysis indicated that the process gave participants abetter understanding of each other’s lived realities; that it helped to level out unequal powerrelations; and that the reciprocal learning boosted development on personal and professionallevels. The knowledge we share in this article will help others to know how to design andimplement a valuable and mutually beneficial service learning experience not only inCreative Arts education; but in any discipline where students engage with community.

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