The Community as a Laboratory of Study: Getting Out of the Ivory Tower

Abstract

Despite the prevalence of field work and case study research by academicians, very few graduate or undergraduate courses offer extended opportunities for students to apply urban theory through direct engagement and the study of actual communities outside of the ivory tower of academe. We believe this approach lends itself well to a number of fields of study, and this paper investigates this novel approach to teaching. We have given the course the title of “Community Analysis” and have employed the approach in diverse settings including Cleveland, Ohio; Toronto, Ontario; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The goals/aims of getting out of the “ivory tower” and into the community are multiple, and experiential learning in the community provides benefits—and potential risks—for both teachers and students. Although this kind of teaching pedagogy imposes special challenges, the authors' collective experiences in using this approach to student learning indicate that, with proper preparation and oversight, such efforts can be richly rewarding for all parties involved.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richard W. Jelier

Richard W. Jelier is assistant professor in the School of Public and Nonprofit Administration at Grand Valley State University. He holds a dual Ph.D. in Political Science and Urban Studies from the Department of Political Science and Urban Affairs Programs at Michigan State University. He specializes in urban policy and administration and economic and community development. He has recently published in Urban Education and The Urban Review. Jelier can be reached at [email protected]

Robert J. Clarke

Robert J. Clarke is professor emeritus with the School of Public and Nonprofit Administration and the Department of Political Science at Grand Valley State University. He holds a Ph.D. from Notre Dame University. He has publications on American local government, Irish and Northern Ireland conflict, and South African democracy. Clarke has taught community and local politics on site in several European countries and American cities. He has served as a public policy television producer on a local National Public Radio outlet and he currently has a weekly radio analysis contrasting foreign democracies with the United States. Clarke is the past president of the Michigan Conference of Political Scientists. He was assistant for external affairs to the president at Boston College, where his responsibilities included the development of programs integrating instruction with service learning. Clarke is also the founder of Citizen Bee, a national high school quiz program on American democracy.