Investigating Residential Segregation Through Project-Based Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Rather than presenting information and narratives in our policy research classes, we have students investigate residential segregation. Our ideal is to have students investigate their own familiar geography through primary sources. Letting students find the data, debate definitions of segregation, and come to their own conclusions joins community engagement, civic awareness, and experiential learning. Our Policy Research class, refined over several semesters, requires students to work in teams, access census data, search at the tract level, construct definitions, engage in data visualization, and present to peers and the community. This active research into residential segregation is an effective way to engage with the community at the same time learning valuable research skills in finding, considering, verifying, and presenting facts.