Building A Learning Community For Fieldwork Students: A Case Study Example

Abstract

Many university recreation faculties would agree that the fieldwork experience is one of the most important steps in professional preparation. In addition, quality fieldwork placement can be a challenge. In the rural community where Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) is located there is a limited number of quality fieldwork sites where students can continue to integrate learning through the guided application of academic foundations in a professional setting. This article describes a case study of building a fieldwork site based on Shapiro and Levin's (1999) learning community initiatives. A successful partnership was implemented between the Department of Health Education and Recreation at SIUC and the Union County Housing Authority. In accordance with this arrangement, fieldwork students assumed full responsibility as staff for after school and summer recreation programs that serve at-risk youth. A recreation graduate student assumed responsibility for fieldwork supervision. Information and feedback from student input and faculty observations provide a basis for dialog about recreation pedagogy and professional preparation.