1. APPLYING CRITICAL THINKING AND ANALYTICAL REASONING TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LINKING THEORY & PRACTICE

2. Application of classroom theory to community engagement Applying basic concepts to community action Relating these concept to community interests

3. Applying skills learned in classroom to community engagement Relating methodology to community needs Working with data to assist community Pairing classes with appropriate community organizations

4. Instructor’s role in preparing students for community outreach Helps students gain proper skills for service-learning and community-based research Provides a classroom setting for students to share their community outreach experiences and relate them to course objectives and readings

5. Civic engagement adds value and meaning to learning students sharpen critical thinking skills by applying classroom knowledge reflective journals enhance learning classroom presentations empower students

6. Civic engagement responds to community needs Student and instructor seek appropriate community partner Community partner identifies and prioritizes community needs Civic engagement project is designed to respond to those needs

7. Critical thinking leads to critical dialogue Students use their critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills to engage in serious dialogue with community members related to issues of importance to the community The dialogue enables both students and community representatives to reflect on the feedback from one another and enhance their understanding of each other’s positions.

8. Students bond with community realize that they learn from the community students become better listeners as they open themselves to the knowledge, and perhaps wisdom, of community members.

9. Civic engagement & self-reflection Students self-reflect based on community response to their service-learning and community-based research Students self-reflect as they write weekly journals and assess their experiences in the community, and ask themselves questions about their community interaction

10. Solving problems with civic engagement students work with community members to study issues of importance to community students engage in problem-solving to find solutions related to these issues

11. Relating the cognitive to the affective students develop understanding of community’s challenges students relate to the feelings of community members and strengthen their level of compassion

12. Cooperative learning through civic engagement Students become partners with the community in gaining understanding of the dimensions of a problem or issue Students partner with the community in designing strategies for addressing issues and resolving a problem.

13. Civic engagement and self-confidence Students build self-confidence as the community accepts them as a partner Students build self-confidence as they see progress in addressing an issue and working to resolve a problem Students gain a greater sense of empowerment as they see themselves as change agents

14. Evolution of student service-learning experience Service-learning experience evolves together with critical thinking and analytical reasoning abilities New service-learning settings build on previous civic engagement and demand new or refined critical thinking skills.

15. Students become more versatile by working in multiple contexts They become more adaptable to unexpected and changing conditions They are more likely to abandon preconceived attitudes and approaches to problems The greater open-mindedness facilitates critical thinking and analytical reasoning

16. Civic engagement and engaged scholarship Civic engagement prepares students to undertake scholarly research based on their interaction with the community and data they collect The research lends itself to publication in growing numbers of journals related to community outreach.

17. Value of community-based research to the Community Assists community organization in documenting its records Strengthens community grant proposals by documenting needs Establishes a historical record Provides a basis for publication

18. Sustainability of civic engagement projects many students bond with the community organization they are serving and continue to work with the organization beyond the time they receive classroom credit this bonding can further enhance student critical thinking and problem-solving skills and can lead to employment opportunities with the organization and an enhanced portfolio

19. Applying civic engagement to daily life Civic engagement experiences have a continual effect on the students, encouraging critical thinking and questioning related to everyday challenges Critical thinking and analytical skills once put into practice are accessible beyond any given project or relationship

20. Civic engagement and professional advancement Civic engagement strengthens a student’s portfolio for application to graduate and professional school Civic engagement strengthens a student’s portfolio for employment Civic engagement strengthens student skills for a variety of careers