Abstract
Learning by doing is currently seen as having priority within higher education in Palestine. This priority has been prompted by the premise that the most profound learning often comes from experience that is supported by guidance, context-providing, foundational knowledge, and intellectual analysis. This paper presents a case study on the implementation of community-based learning (CBL) courses at An-Najah National University in Palestine. The study explains that the opportunity of students to bring practical knowledge and notions based on their personal experience and social interactions is of significant importance to the learning experience of students and to the content of the course. The study also aims at highlighting the value of CBL to the communities involved in such initiatives in terms of benefits reaped from the resources of our staff and students while maintaining powerful ways of transforming knowledge.
References
Astin, A. W., Vogelgesang, L. J., Ikeda, E. K., & Yee, J. A. (2000). How service learning affects students. Los Angeles: Higher Education Research Institute.
Bhutta, Z. A., Memon, Z. A., Soofi, S., Salat, M. S., Cousens, S., & Martines, J. (2008). Implementing community-based perinatal care: Results from a pilot study in rural Pakistan. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 86, 452–459.
Carroll, J. M., & Farooq, U. (2005). Community-based learning: Design patterns and frameworks. In H. Glllersen, K. Schmidt, M. Beaudouin-Lafon, & W. Mackay (Eds.), Proceedings of the 9th European conference on computer supported cooperative work (Paris, France, September 18–22, 2005). ECSCW (Vol. 9, pp. 307–324). Dordrecht: Springer.
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, An-Najah National University. (2016). http://celt.najah.edu/node/40380
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, An-Najah National University. (2017). https://celt.najah.edu/node/41996
Cooper, J. E. (2007). Strengthening the case for community-based learning in teacher education. Journal of Teacher Education, 58, 245–255.
Dale, C. (2005). Community based learning. Humanity and Society, 29, 192–208.
Daragmeh, A. K., Drane, D., & Light, G. (2012). Needs assessment and beyond in the setup of centers for teaching and learning excellence: An-Najah university center as a case study. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 47, 841–847.
Eriksen, H. M., Bergdahl, M., Byrkjeflot, L. I., Crossner, C. G., Widstrom, E., & Tillberg, A. (2011). Evaluation of a dental outreach teaching Programme. European Journal of Dental Education, 15, 3–7.
Eyler, J., Giles, D. E., Jr., Stenson, C. M., & Gray, C. J. (2001). At a glance: What we know about the effects of service learning on college students, faculty, institutions, and communities 1993–2000. Washington, DC: Corporation for National and Community Service.
Hardwick, L. (2013). The place of community-based learning in higher education: A case study of interchange. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 37, 349–366.
Hart, S. M., & King, J. R. (2007). Service learning and literacy tutoring: Academic impact on pre-service teachers. Teaching & Teacher Education, 23(4), 323–338.
Hosny, S., Kamel, M. H., El-Wazir, Y., & Gilbert, J. (2013). Integrating interprofessional education in community-based learning activities: Case study. Medical Teacher, 35, S68–S73.
Ibrahim, M. (2010). The use of community based learning in educating college students in Midwestern USA. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2, 392–396.
Johnson, I., Hunter, L. M., & Chestnutt, I. G. (2012). Undergraduate students’ experiences of outreach placements in dental secondary care settings. European Journal of Dental Education, 16, 213–217.
Joury, E. (2016). Community-based learning in a challenging context: The development and evaluation of an outreach dental public health Programme in Damascus University. Syria European Journal of Dental Education, 20, 39–44.
Kadaluru, U. G., Kempraj, V. M., & Muddaiah, P. (2012). Utilization of oral health care services among adults attending community outreach programs. Indian Journal of Dental Research, 23, 841–842.
Learning and Skills Council: Working Together: Five Years On. Coventry: Learning and Skills Council (2009).
Li, H., Hasegawa, S., & Kashihara, A. (2015). A multi-layer map-oriented resource organization system for web-based self-directed learning combined with community-based. Learning Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 10, 1–28.
Lundy, B. (2007). Service learning in life-span Developmental Psychology: Higher exam scores and increased empathy. Teaching of Psychology, 34(1), 23–27.
McTier, A., & McGregor, A. (2011). Integrating employment and skills: The role of community-based learning. Policy Studies, 32, 73–90.
Melaville, A., Berg, A. C., & Blank, M. J. (2006). Community-based learning: Engaging students for success and citizenship. Coalition for Community Schools. Retrieved from http://www.communityschools.org/assets/1/AssetManager/CBLFinal.pdf
Meredith, J. (1998). Building operations management theory through case and field research. Journal of Operations Management, 16, 441–454.
Mumghamba, E. G. (2014). Integrating a primary oral health care approach in the dental curriculum: A Tanzanian experience. Medical Principles and Practice, 23(Suppl. 1), 69–77.
Ngai, S. S. (2006). Service-learning, personal development, and social commitment: A case study of university students in Hong Kong. Adolescence, 41(161), 165–176.
O’Connor, A. (2012). Beyond the four walls: Community-based learning and languages. The Language Learning Journal, 40, 307–420.
Prentice, M. (2007). Service learning and civic engagement. Academic Questions, 20(2), 135–145.
Sather, P., Weitz, B., & Carlson, P. (2007). Engaging students in macro issues through community-based learning: The policy, practice, and research sequence. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 27(3/4), 61–79.
Sleeter, C. (2001). Preparing teachers for culturally diverse schools: Research and the overwhelming presence of whiteness. Journal of Teacher Education, 52, 94–106.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jaaron, A.A.M., Mahmoud, A.F.M. (2018). Learning by Doing: The Essence of Community-Based Learning at An-Najah National University, Palestine. In: Fardoun, H., Downing, K., Mok, M. (eds) The Future of Higher Education in the Middle East and Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64656-5_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64656-5_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-64655-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-64656-5
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)