Future of Community Based Learning

1. The Future of Community Based Services and
Education
Rodney Davis
AET:508 Community Based Education

2. Introduction
Many communities are left depending on the local
government to build their communities.“As multinational
corporations constantly relocate in search of cheap labor
and production costs,communities in the United States
are left behind with high rates of under and
unemployment, a shrinking tax base and often
environmental decay.(Gruenewald and Smith, 2014)”.

3. Key Considerations
Things to take into consideration are:
1. Fundings
2. Importance of Community Awareness and
Involvement
3. Legislation

4. Federal Funding
● Legislation- In order for many programs in place to
continue, the federal government may have to revisit some
of current policy to ensure there is enough funds to
continue programs in place.
● Funding for Veterans-Government assistance need to
continue for military veterans and their families.
● Federal Financial Aid- Loans and Grants from the federal
government play a large role in funding most Americans
education. Programs such as Federal Financial Aid must
continue to persist.

5. State and Local Funding
● Each state makes it own laws and policy in regarding to all
entities of education and funding. With the country moving
towards the common core standards in elementary and high
school, one could visualize some sort of unity in community
based programs in the years to come.
● Local Government will continue to regulate majority of non
formal community based learning. Electing officials that are
sensitive to the need of the community is vital.

6. Influence of Diversity
Diversity has played a role in education since
the founding of the United States. From the
woman suffrage movement in the 19th century
to Brown vs. The Board of Education, diversity
has shaped our outlook and outcome of
education

7. Influence of Diversity
Now, the modern learning environment is
everything but a traditional classroom,
especially the adult learning.
Community Based learning will see an increase
in diversity in the next couple of decades due
to the STEM push in modern education.

8. Innovative Ideas
Some ways to promote community based learning are:
● Service Learning
“In its simplest form, service learning entails student volunteering in
the community for academic credit”(Mooney and Edwards,2001).
● STEM
● Environmental Projects
“Social Learning is the collective action and reflection that occurs
among different individuals and groups as they work to improve the
management of human and environmental interrelations”(Dyball and
Keen, 2012)

9. Conclusion
Community based programs have prospered in the past
half century and beliefs are there will continue to be
progress in adult learning and education. In order to
continue the progress all three levels of
government(federal, state, and local) must continue to
pass laws and reforms the one in place to fit society need.
Also new and innovative ideas must be established to get
members of the community to “buy in” to the new ideas
and education training.

10. Gruenewald, D. A., & Smith, G. A. (Eds.). (2014). Place-based education in the global
age: Local diversity. Routledge.Gruenewald, D. A., & Smith, G. A. (Eds.). (2014). Place-
based education in the global age: Local diversity. Routledge.
Mooney, L. A., & Edwards, B. (2001). Experiential learning in sociology: Service learning
and other community-based learning initiatives. Teaching Sociology, 181-194.
Dyball, R., & Keen, M. (Eds.). (2012). Social Learning in Environmental Management:
Towards a Sustainable Future. Taylor & Francis.