CSL and CBR
Both Community Service Learning (CSL) and Community-Based Research (CBR) can be conducted by an individual student or a group of students. Both can take place over one or more academic terms, or in a more compressed timeframe.
CSL has three key elements
- classroom learning
- volunteer work that responds to community priorities
- structured activities that challenge students to reflect on and make connections between what they’re learning inside and outside the classroom.
CBR responds to community-identified issues or questions
In CBR, the goals are to:
- work with a community organization to develop a better understanding of an issue or question
- provide information that can give direction to the organization while inspiring students to apply their academic knowledge to their critical analysis of the issue and their roles as researchers.
Why consider incorporating a CBEL component into my courses?
As an instructor, you will gain the opportunity to:
- work with students who are more engaged and inquisitive
- demonstrate how your course content is relevant to real-life issues
- motivate students to make a difference
- build stronger links between research, learning, and community issues
- and become more involved in the community yourself, perhaps even making community engagement part of your scholarly work
By integrating CSL or CBR into your courses, you can make a real impact in the community while helping your students get more engaged in—and passionate about—their studies.
Learn more about CLS and CBR
Learn more about how you can include CSL or CBR in your courses. Contact Susan Grossman, Director of the UBC-Community Learning Initiative, by email at susan.grossman@ubc.ca or by calling Susan directly at 604.822.0076.
