Introduction
One of the learning objectives of this learning community is to learn how to work within a community to develop action plans for change. The purpose of this assignment is for students to observe community members engaging in just those kinds of processes.
The Process
You will attend four meetings or events that address community issues. Events may include neighborhood association meetings, awareness-raising events, activism, or other forms of community work for a public good. Two events should be on-campus and two should be off-campus.
As you attend, observe the roles of the individuals involved:
- how are they effective or ineffective?
- what is the role of knowledge, information, information seeking, and inquiry in effective action?
- what kinds of knowledge are privileged (statistics, facts, personal accounts, etc.)?
- how does the credibility of the source matter?
- how does the status of the person giving the information matter?
- what seems to have the greatest influence over what issues receive the most attention? Over how decisions are made? Over how plans are implemented?
Observations and reflections such as these will be recorded after each meeting in a reflection log (NCLC 203 Comm Event Observation log)
Synthesis
A final synthesis paper should integrate your experiences in these four meetings (use your four reflection logs to inform your analysis). Summarize a few themes that you observed, particularly around course topics, such as:
- how do people know? How do people working in the community find out what they need to know to create positive change? What kinds of knowledge or sources of knowledge are privileged?
- what are effective roles for individuals involved in these events? How can a person who wants to make a difference in the community engage most effectively with others?
- what have you learned about the community? What have you learned about how communities work?
|
Due Date |
Assignment |
Guidelines and Expectations |
| 1/29, 11pm | Community Meeting Log 1 | Attend a community meeting or event and submit your observations and reflections using the provided form. |
| 2/5, 11pm | Community Meeting Log 2 | |
| 2/19, 11pm | Community Meeting Log 3 | |
| 3/5, 11pm | Community Meeting Log 4 | |
| 3/19, 11pm | Synthesis Paper | 700-1000 word paper synthesizing your thoughts on these events. |
Please submit the reflection logs and synthesis paper via the appropriate PebblePad gateway.
Examples
You will find further options at Community Events (with dates, times and locations). If you find an event to attend on your own, contact the TA, Lulu Geza, for advance approval. The following are examples of the types of meetings/events you might attend.
- City of Fairfax Commission for Women: meets the third Tuesday of every month.
- Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Annual Plan for Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers, January 21st at 7pm.
- Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, Third Wednesday of each month.
- George Mason University, Residence Hall Association, Chesapeake Area Leadership Council, Mondays at 8pm.
- George Mason University Program Board Comedy/Speakers Committee, Wednesdays, 6:30pm.