participatory action research (par) and service-learning: solving community problems through...
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G U I S E P P E G E T T OE O S A S C H O L A R 2 0 1 5 - 1 6E N G L I S H D E PA R T M E N T
G E T T O G @ E C U . E D U
Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Service-Learning: Solving Community Problems Through
Education
What I’ll Cover
What is PAR?
How does it connect to service-learning?
What do I mean by “solving community problems through education”?
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa
(three example cases)?
Activity 1: Creating your own PAR/SL project
Activity 2: How will your field respond?
Activity 3: How will your department respond?
What Is PAR?
“Action research integrates research and action in a series
of flexible cycles involving, holistically rather than as
separate steps: the collection of data about the topic of
investigation; analysis and interpretation of those data; the
planning and introduction of action strategies to bring
about positive changes; and evaluation of those
changes through further data collection, analysis and
interpretation… ” (Somekh, 2006)
What Is PAR?, cont’d
(Cruz, 2013)
How does PAR connect to service-learning?
Both involve critical thinking, reflection, and action
Both aim to unite academic activities (research and
teaching) with community-based problem-solving
Both are difficult, messy, iterative activities
Both involve balancing the (often competing) needs
of a variety of stakeholders (i.e. community
members, faculty, students, etc.)
What do I mean by “solving community problems through education”?
Faculty
Students
Community Members
Solving Community Problems
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa? Case 1: Community Media in
Lansing, MI
First Year Writing Instructors (Me +
2 Colleagues)
FYW Students
Non-Profit Leaders
Community Media Projects
(websites, videos, brochures,
newsletters, etc.)
(Getto, Leon, & Getto-Rivait, 2014)
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa? Case 1: Community Media in
Lansing, MI, cont’d
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa?, Case 2: Online Technical
Writing With iFixit
Technical Writing
Instructor (Me)
Technical Writing
Students
Technical Writers and
Users at iFixit.com
Online Repair Documentatio
n
(Getto, Franklin, & Ruszkiewicz, 2014)
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa?, Case 2: Online Technical Writing With iFixit, cont’d
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa?, Case 2: Online Technical Writing With iFixit, cont’d
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa?, Case 2: Online Technical Writing With iFixit, cont’d
How can service-learning create opportunities for PAR and visa versa?, Case 3 (EOSA): Helping Non-Profits in Eastern NC With Digital
Communication
Business Writing Instructor (Me)
Business Writing Students
Non-Profit Leaders
Learning Opportunities for Effective Use of Digital Media
(Getto & Flanagan, In Process)
Activity 1: Creating your own PAR/SL project
Faculty?
Students?
Community Members?
Community Problems to
Solve?
Activity 2: How will your field respond?
Fellow Researchers?
Venues?
Students?
Community Members?
Research Questions?
Activity 3: How will your department respond?
Colleagues?
Students?
Community Members?
Deliverables?
REFERENCES
Cruz, X. (2013). Participatory action research (PAR) for sustainable community development. Post Growth. Available: http://postgrowth.org/participatory-action-research-par-for-sustainable-community-development/.
Getto, G., & Flanagan, S. (In Process). Helping content: A threefold approach to digital content management for non-profits. Communication Design Quarterly.
Getto, G., Leon, K. & Getto-Rivait, J. (2014). Helping to build better networks: Service-learning partnerships as distributed knowledge work. Reflections, 13(2), 71-95.
Getto, G., Franklin, N. & Ruszkiewicz, S. (2014). Networked rhetoric: iFixit and the social impact of knowledge work. Technical Communication, 61(3), 185-201.
Somekh, B. (2006). Action research: A methodology for change and development. New York, NY: Open University Press.