An Experiential Learning An Experiential Learning Approach to Graduate Approach to Graduate

EducationEducation

John Bliss, Nils Christofferson, John Bliss, Nils Christofferson, Kate Mactavish, Jesse Kate Mactavish, Jesse Abrams, and Kathleen Abrams, and Kathleen

GuillozetGuillozet

ObjectivesObjectives

1.1. To learn first hand from community To learn first hand from community leaders about current conditions leaders about current conditions and future prospects for rural, and future prospects for rural, natural-resource - dependent natural-resource - dependent communities. communities.

ObjectivesObjectives

2.2. To become familiar with the social To become familiar with the social science concepts of poverty, natural science concepts of poverty, natural resource dependency, community resource dependency, community well-being; social, human, economic well-being; social, human, economic and natural capital, land tenure, and natural capital, land tenure, and sustainability. and sustainability.

ObjectivesObjectives

3.3. To sharpen empathetic listening, To sharpen empathetic listening, analytical thinking, and effective analytical thinking, and effective communication skills. communication skills.

ObjectivesObjectives

4.4. To foster constructive dialogue To foster constructive dialogue between the university and rural between the university and rural communities.communities.

MethodsMethods

• Reading, lecture, discussion, writingReading, lecture, discussion, writing• Meals, seminars, conversations with Meals, seminars, conversations with

ranchers, forest owners, educators, ranchers, forest owners, educators, county commissioners, health county commissioners, health professionals, community leadersprofessionals, community leaders

MethodsMethods

• Tours: ranch, woodlot, sawmill, Tours: ranch, woodlot, sawmill, hospital, high school, community hospital, high school, community forest, food bank, dairy farm, docks, forest, food bank, dairy farm, docks, judicial court judicial court

• Hiking, horseback riding, kayakingHiking, horseback riding, kayaking

Graduate Students from:Graduate Students from: AnthropologyAnthropology Ag. EconomicsAg. Economics EducationEducation Environmental Environmental

SciencesSciences ForestryForestry HealthHealth Human Development & Human Development &

Family ScienceFamily Science Public PolicyPublic Policy

The NumbersThe Numbers 3 credits3 credits 15 graduate students15 graduate students 1,000 pages of reading1,000 pages of reading 2 weeks in 2 vans2 weeks in 2 vans 2,000 miles2,000 miles 3+ communities3+ communities 30+ resource people30+ resource people

More NumbersMore Numbers Cost: $800 - Cost: $800 -

$1,000/student$1,000/student Fee: $350/studentFee: $350/student Addl. Funding from Addl. Funding from

Rural Initiative, Rural Initiative, Ford Family Ford Family FoundationFoundation

3 months planning3 months planning