Becoming Community-Engaged Educators: Engaging Students Within and Beyond the Classroom Walls

This book calls for educators to engage with their communities, using a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews and case studies. It presents a local theory of community-engaged teachers and researchers to help educators develop as community-engaged teachers or researchers, examining the initial induction, maintenance of energy, commitment, and motivation, and the role of support networks.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 86 pages
Publication date: 19 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book is a powerful call to action for educators at all levels of education and in all subject areas, with a particular focus on language education. By employing a grounded theory approach, it features semi-structured interviews with educators who exemplify community-engaged education in a qualitative manner. Each chapter includes a case study that delves into the motivations, strategies, successes, and failures of the interviewee. This book presents a local theory of community-engaged teachers and researchers to guide educators in their journey towards becoming community-engaged teachers or researchers. It raises and seeks to answer critical questions related to the initial induction into community engagement, the sustenance of energy, commitment, and motivation, and the significance of support networks. Through these, the book explores what is required to maintain such an identity and supports campaigns of action or individual engagement in both the short and long term.

Introduction:
This book is a timely and essential resource for educators who are passionate about making a positive impact on their communities and students. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing community-engaged education, which is a teaching and research approach that prioritizes collaboration with community partners and stakeholders to address real-world problems and promote social change.

Chapter 1:
In the first chapter, the book explores the theoretical foundations of community-engaged education. It discusses the importance of community-based learning, the role of educators as change agents, and the need for educators to be responsive to the needs and perspectives of their communities. The chapter also introduces the grounded theory approach, which will be used throughout the book to analyze and interpret the data collected from the interviews.

Chapter 2:
In the second chapter, the book presents a case study of a community-engaged teacher who works in a low-income school district. The case study explores the teacher's motivations, strategies, successes, and failures in implementing community-engaged education. The chapter also highlights the importance of building strong relationships with community partners and stakeholders and the significance of cultural competency in community-engaged education.

Chapter 3:
In the third chapter, the book examines the challenges and barriers to implementing community-engaged education. It discusses the lack of resources, funding, and support for community-based projects and the challenges of working with diverse communities. The chapter also explores the role of educators and policymakers in promoting community-engaged education and provides strategies for overcoming these barriers.

Chapter 4:
In the fourth chapter, the book presents a local theory of community-engaged teachers and researchers. The theory is based on the experiences and insights of the interviewees and aims to assist educators in developing as community-engaged teachers or researchers. The theory emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with community partners and stakeholders, the significance of cultural competency, and the need for educators to be reflexive and reflective in their practice.

Chapter 5:
In the fifth chapter, the book explores the role of support networks in sustaining community-engaged education. It discusses the importance of building and maintaining relationships with colleagues, mentors, and peers who share similar interests and values. The chapter also highlights the significance of professional development opportunities and the need for educators to engage in ongoing learning and reflection to improve their practice.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for educators who are committed to making a difference in their communities and students. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing community-engaged education, and it offers practical strategies and insights for building strong relationships with community partners and stakeholders, developing cultural competency, overcoming barriers to implementation, and sustaining community-engaged education over the long term. By engaging with the ideas and principles presented in this book, educators can create meaningful and impactful learning experiences for their students and contribute to the betterment of their communities.

Weight: 163g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811686443
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022