Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Experiential educational engagement with working groups and communities of practice

Project ID: M2010-25

Abstract

An ISU graduate class in sustainable agriculture was used to foment student interest in community-based projects related to the heightened interest in Iowa food, fiber and energy enterprises.

Key Question: Can the elements of success in an intensive experiential field course beginning before the start of the fall semester be replicated in a community-based project-focused class taking place during the confines of a traditional semester?

Findings: Yes, rather than focusing on many enterprises across multiple communities as in the field course, this class focused on more in-depth engagement in community-based projects by teams of students with expectations adapted to the confines of the semester calendar.

Lead investigator: Betty L. Wells, ISU Sociology

Year of grant completion: 2011

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Community-based food systems