Project Investigator(s): Reginald D’Silva, Senior Instructor and Academic Director, UBC-Ritsumeikan Academic Exchange Programs, Department of Language and Literacy Education; Ryan Deschambault, Instructor, UBC-Ritsumeikan Academic Exchange Programs; Amber Moore, PhD Student, LLED and Support Associate
Project Description
International students in the UBC-Rits Programs (UBC-Rits), as in other programs across UBC, are faced with learning challenges while enrolled in courses with inter-related themes linked to social justice, global citizenship, Canadian studies, inter-cultural communication, immigrant communities, and indigenous peoples. Instructionally designed, instructor facilitated, Community-Based Experiential Learning Modules (CBELM) have the potential to enhance students’ understanding of the complex issues associated with such themes. This pilot experiential learning project aims to extend and deepen international students’ classroom learning while enriching their undergraduate student experiences and serving as a co-curricular instructional model for other international programs on campus and beyond.
Research Questions
The project will be guided by the following research questions: a) What is the effectiveness of Community Based Experiential Learning (CBEL) activities in extending International English as an Additional Language (EAL) students’ understandings on complex course topics? b) In what ways can Community-Based Experiential Learning enrich the learning experience of international students? c) How can CBEL experiences be effectively employed as a pedagogical tool in teaching and learning contexts at UBC? d) What are students’ perceptions of the effectiveness and benefit of out-of-classroom field experiences?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
At UBC, this project will enhance international students’ engagement with complex course themes through targeted multimodal co-curricular experiences, further aligning UBC-Rits Program’s goals with UBC’s visions, purpose and values of transformative teaching and learning through the infusion of innovative and collaborative pedagogical practices that include community engagement. (UBC Website, 2018). Extending students’ engagement with such themes through experiential learning activities would provide undergraduate students with Enriched Educational Experiences (i.e. 3Es)- a key pedagogical goal at UBC. Beyond UBC, findings from this project could provide a pedagogical model to implement out-of-classroom activities to support students’ course work in undergraduate international programs.
Outcomes Achieved
Students’ responses to surveys showed that they valued the experiential learning opportunities the CBEL modules provided. Some students also mentioned that they made connections to content in specific program courses through these modules. The project team reflected on the process of creating, coordinating and delivering such experiential learning experiences. We found that although they are very educationally beneficial, there are many factors that need to be considered in planning and delivering these out-of-classroom (and non-course related) modules in order to increase student participation.