Project Investigator(s): Henry Yu, Principal, Associate Professor, Department of History, Christina Lee, Joanna Yang
Project Description
Professor Henry Yu has over 15 years of experience teaching, mentoring and supervising students to conduct place-based research and learning beyond traditional classroom settings. In 2018, Prof. Yu led “ACAM 390A – The Heritage of Chinese Migration,” which included the “Global Engagement, Local Impact” research-to-internship program pilot. This pilot facilitated placing 14 out of 20 students into community-based internships, which involved responsibilities such as: using media and technology to document locally significant oral histories in local organizations, and using research knowledge to inform public programming. This project will seek to identify, analyze, and measure the impact of experiential, community-based oral history teaching and learning practices on alumni.
Research Questions
How does this pedagogical approach to teaching and learning inform post-graduation choices for UBC arts alumni (career, research, etc.)? How can we use this analysis to strategically inform future iterations of the program infrastructure, and curricula? Can we provide a model and relevant data to colleagues engaged in similar teaching practices, in order to support the “scaling up” of this program infrastructure? Are there opportunities for UBC to thoughtfully engage UBC alumni via mentorship?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
The ACAM 390A program model and creating a method of evaluating student learning will be relevant for similar Go Global seminars, CCEL programs and other faculty looking to engage students in ethical community-based research work. As well, this project may pose innovative methods to propose and model ethical community-based research and learning for UBC colleagues, and has the potential to nurture a robust and engaged alumni community. A longitudinal study and analysis of Professor Yu’s previous students will help shape program structures and curriculum design, all in the name to support student research, success, and transitions after university.