“We Chose a Good Activity and Did It Well”: The Emergence of Community Through Service-Learning

• In Event: Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: STEM Preservice Teacher Beliefs and Community Building

Abstract

Grounded in the literature of social learning theory, this study investigates the unexpected emergence of a learning community in a middle level mathematics and science methods course. Preservice teachers’ participation in a collaborative, inquiry-based service learning project pointed to the formation of a community characterized by teamwork, common goals, and shared identity. As this learning community emerged unexpectedly and unintentionally, this research explores how learning communities may develop as a natural outcome of distinct types of learning experiences.

Authors

• Jennifer Cutsforth Kaschak, University of Scranton

• Karim Medico Letwinsky, Wilkes University