Capstones and Presentations

of Learning

Presentations of Learning University of Richmond

Blake Stack and Bryan Figura

How do we help them tell their story of transformation?*

*And how do we measure it?

Method #1 . . . write-ups and 1 on 1’s

Bonner Center for Civic Engagement’s Learning Goals

1. The CCE helps students understand the ways that difference, privilege, and power work in their own lives and in our society.

2. The CCE broadens and deepens students’ thinking about complex and interconnected social issues affecting our world today.

3. The CCE prepares students for active citizenship.

4. The CCE prepares students for lives of active learning.

Method #2 . . . senior retreat

Who have I been?

Who am I called to be?

Method #3 . . . Presentations of Learning (POL)

A POL is the public telling of story about personal transformation in the final semester of

their senior year.

presentations

12

Junior)Capstone)Enhancement)Stetson'University'

Kevin'Winchell'and'Savannah'Jane'Griffin

Current'Capacity'of'Partner

Potential'Capacity'''of'Partner''''''''''''(after'capacity2building'efforts)

Current'Capacity'of'Partner

Potential'Capacity'''of'Partner''''''''''''(after'capacity2building'efforts)

Current'Capacity'of'Partner

Research

Grant2W

riting Marketing

Progra

m'Dev.

Volunt.'Mgmt.Assessment

Our'Levers• Certificate)of)Community)Engagement)– Before:)Encouraged)for)Bonners)– Now:)Required)for)Bonners)

• Junior)Capstone:)– Before:)Loose)recommendations)and)no)structure)– Now:)Required)for)all)Bonners)and)includes)accountability)structures)and)clear)expectations)

• Senior)Legacy:)– Before:)LooselyCstructured)oral)presentation)– Now:)WellCstructured)and)practiced)oral)presentation)and)written)reflection)of)student)learning)and)community)impact)• Synergies:)Written)reflection)is)also)a)requirement)of)the)Certificate

Results

• Increased)partner)capacity)• Increased)student)learning)– Personal,)professional,)leadership)skills)– Academic)and)career)linkages)

• Increased)community)impact

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

New)structure/requirements:)1. Must)build)capacity)of)partner.)2. Must)identify)a)problem/challenge)of)partner.)3. Must)create)a)plan)to)solve)that)problem/

challenge.))4. Must)implement)that)plan.)5. Must)connect)plan)to)academic)major(s).)6. Must)connect)plan)to)career)goal(s).

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

How)this)is)operationalized:)A. Written)oneCpage)draft)proposal)submitted)to)Bonner)

Program)Director)by)September)1)of)Junior)year.)Proposal)must)address)each)of)the)six)requirements.))

B. Bonner)Program)Director)gives)feedback.)C. Student)submits)final)proposal)to)Bonner)Program)

Director)by)October)1)of)Junior)year,)including)signature/approval)of)site)supervisor.)

D. Student)implements)plan)during)Junior)and)Senior)years.

“Senior'Legacy”'Cornerstone

How)this)is)operationalized:)A. Student)reflects)on)transformation)of)self)and)partner)

over)their)four)years,)including)the)actual)impact)made)by)their)Junior)Capstone)project)A. Written)paper))

– which)is)also)required)to)complete)our)Certificate)of)Community)Engagement)

B. Oral)presentation)as)final)Bonner)meeting)of)the)year)– Formal)presentation;)friends,)family,)and)partners)are)all)invited

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

Possible)examples:)– Psychology)major)with)career)interest)in)social)work)identifies)need)for)more)certified)case)workers)at)local)homeless)center.)Student)researches)certification)requirements)and)creates)program)“pipeline”)to)recruit)firstCyear)students)as)site)volunteers)and)train)them)to)become)certified)case)workers)by)their)Junior)years.

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

Possible)examples:)– Biology)major)with)career)interest)in)sustainability)initiatives)identifies)need)for)more)research)about)invasive)fish)species)in)local)springs.)Student)researches)invasive)fish)species,)collects)data)to)better)understand)their)behavior)and)life)cycle,)then)submits)data)and)publishes/presents)a)report)to)local)wildlife)management)office)to)inform)its)budget)and)operations.

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

Possible)examples:)– Computer)Science)major)with)career)interest)in)computer)programming)identifies)need)for)teaching)youth)how)to)do)computer)programming.)Student)researches)national)bestCpractices)and)programs,)develops)a)model)for)such)a)program)at)a)local)youth)center,)recruits)fellow)computer)science)students)to)volunteer)with)the)program,)and)then)implements/manages)the)computer)programming)program.)

“Junior'Capstone”'Cornerstone

Possible)examples:)– Accounting)major)with)career)interest)in)financial)accounting)identifies)need)for)local)disadvantaged)families)to)get)free)tax)preparation)assistance.)Student)researches)IRS)certification)requirements,)develops)a)model)for)such)a)program)at)a)local)community)center,)recruits)fellow)accounting)students)to)volunteer)with)the)program,)trains)those)students)for)their)IRS)certification,)and)then)implements/manages)the)tax)preparation)program.)

Other'Tips• Build)the)requirements)in)to)your)Bonner)Program’s)Membership)Agreement/Contract)

• Explain)expectations)and)requirements)during)Admissions)process)

• Build)opportunities)for)capacityCbuilding)positions)in)to)your)Community)Partnership)Agreements/Contracts/MoUs)and)reinforce)during)Partner)Orientation/Trainings)

• Have)staff)and)student)leaders)regularly)checkCin)with)students)before/during)implementation)– Cohort)meetings,)siteCbased)meetings,)oneCtoCones