Community-based Research with Students Bow Valley College June 7, 2010 Dawne Clark, PhD Mount Royal University Centre for Child Well-Being
Feb 02, 2016
Community-based Research with Students
Bow Valley CollegeJune 7, 2010
Dawne Clark, PhDMount Royal University
Centre for Child Well-Being
What is Community-based Research?
• My definition – community-based research:– is housed in the community– is mutually beneficial (faculty, students, community)– supports community needs– enhances student learning– impacts curriculum
Supporting Community Needs
• Agencies seeking to improve their practice– Program evaluations– Needs assessments– Community scans
• Few in-house resources– Lack capacity– Staff too busy
Enhancing Student Learning
• Engages students in practical experiential learning
• Teaches skills • Builds confidence and awareness• Increases students’ employability and career
satisfaction
Impacts Curriculum
• Cycles new knowledge from projects back into curriculum
• Enhances and supports faculty knowledge and skills
• Builds strong connections with community
An Example
Physical Activity For Preschool Children
Year One
Questions: • How much physical activity do children in
group care settings in Calgary have each day?
• What are caregivers’ attitudes towards physical activity for children?
What We Did
• Child Studies students framed the research– Literature review– Research question– Surveys– Ethics application
• ELCC students– Explored issue of physical activity– Collected data
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
yes no
Caregivers Consider the Following to be Physical Activity
Playing in a sand box
Riding bikes
Playing tag
Doing a puzzle
Imaginative play-housekeeping
Walking
Organized sports
How Many Minutes in Total Are Children Physically
Active Per Day
12%
26%
34%
14%
14%
1-15 mins
16-30 mins
31-45 mins
46-60 mins
60 mins
Year TwoHow to support caregivers to provide more physical activity or preschool children?
• 35 ELCC 2nd year students (Play 3)• Created activities to support
physical activities • 40 ELCC 1st year students (Practicum)
and 3 CHST students• Piloted, revised, and refined
activities
Results from Year Two• Resource manual• Workshops for
caregivers• Changes in ELCC
curriculum!• Involvement
– 8 faculty from 3 programs– 150 students (ELCC, CHST,
COMM)– 110 child care centreshttp://www.mtroyal.ca/wcm/groups/public/
documents/pdf/hop_skip_and_jump_completed_pd.pdf
Year Three• Students helped to revise
resource manual– Adaptations and extensions– Injury prevention and safety
• Student conference presentations
• Students co-authored articles
Results to Date
• Change in ELCC curriculum at MRU
• Second edition of resource manual (July 2010)
• 120/150 child care centres in Calgary thinking about and planning for physical activity
In the Works
• Cultural understandings and expectations of physical activity for preschool children– ELCC –cultural awareness – staff and children– CHST – survey of new Canadian parents – ELCC and CHST – creating brochures for families
• Policy – Working with AELCS to add examples into accreditation
self-study
How to Sustain Change?
• Education – caregivers, owners/operators, licensing officers, students, faculty
• Resources - equipment, materials, and space• Policy – develop activity guidelines and add to
accreditation standards
Why is this Project Working?
• Grass roots engagement– Students, caregivers, owners/operators
• System support– MRU faculty – Children and Youth Services– Alberta Health Services– ASRWPF, Canada Sport for Life– Health Quality Council of Alberta– AB Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes
• Useful end products– Resource manual and workshops
How to Become Involved in Community-based Research
• Ask questions• Pursue improvement• Seek partners• Advocate for change
– systemic – policy – in-house
• ?
The End
Dawne Clark, PhDCentre for Child Well-Being
Mount Royal Universitywww.mtroyal.ca/wellbeing