Community-based Research with Students Bow Valley College June 7, 2010 Dawne Clark, PhD Mount 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

Year Two How to support caregivers to provide more physical activity or preschool children? 35 ELCC 2 nd year students (Play 3) Created activities to support physical activities 40 ELCC 1 st 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 centres /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 –E–ELCC –cultural awareness – staff and children –C–CHST – survey of new Canadian parents –E–ELCC and CHST – creating brochures for families Policy –W–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, PhD Centre for Child Well-Being Mount Royal University