I Am Because We Are: University Students Conceptualize Community through Symbol

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Experiential Education and Community Engagement: Scholarship and Practice SIG Roundtable 2

Abstract

We used symbolic interactionism to explore how university students conceptualize community through art and artifacts. Undergraduate and graduate students participated in either a virtual or in-person workshop. We invited students to bring an artifact that symbolizes community and identify about three key concepts of community. Collectively, the students in the workshop categorized their keywords into larger themes. After coding the audio transcripts of the workshop, we found that the two most common words discussed were connection and difference.Students emphasized the importance of maintaining individual uniqueness and autonomy when in connection with others, which necessitates attention to conflict. These findings implicate members of our School to focus on matters of power and tension while also supporting connection, mutuality, and solidarity.

Authors

• Amy L. Ferrell, University of Colorado - Denver

• Lisa Williams, National Center for State Courts

• Abigail Rose, University of Colorado - Denver

• Mark Simmonds, University of Colorado - Denver