After watching the Ted Talk titled “Supporting Education Through Community Engagement” by Sienna Wildfield, I gleaned three important lessons. Community engagement can greatly improve and support the education of children through community-based educational resources, community-building events, and community service learning experiences (TEDx Talks, 2013). Firstly, when it comes to community resilience, it is critical to focus on raising children and the generation of people who care about their communities since they reside in them. Putting a great deal of emphasis on children’s education as well as their parental involvement enhances the educational experienced and effectiveness (TEDx Talks, 2013). Community-based educational resources utilize native species, local wildlife, fields, trails, and libraries to engage learners in educational endeavors.
Secondly, community-building events can offer an outstanding opportunity through occupational exposure, such as honey festivals. Children are able to learn about the job of beekeepers as well as the intricacies of the job (TEDx Talks, 2013). A study found that “community-based art education can better prepare art educators to reconceptualize curriculum in response to community and social engagement concerns” (Lawton, 2019, p. 203). In other words, such events are valuable in many other areas, including art or biology. Children can learn, experience, and retain the gained knowledge better by being engaged in their respective community’s events.
Thirdly, the community service learning experiences primarily develop a sense of care and appreciation for one’s community. Volunteering is among many other examples of how a child can both learn and grow as an individual with a strong sense of belongingness (TEDx Talks, 2013). It is stated that “activities like volunteering can be actively incorporated into students’ learning process, making their overall experience of higher education more active, enjoyable, and relevant” (Khasanzyanova, 2017, p. 363). Therefore, community engagement is a powerful tool to boost the education process for students, which can be achieved through community-based educational resources, community-building events, and community service learning experiences.
References
Khasanzyanova, A. (2017). How volunteering helps students to develop soft skills. International Review of Education, 63, 363–379. Web.
Lawton, P. H. (2019). At the crossroads of intersecting ideologies: Community-based art education, community engagement, and social practice art. Studies in Art Education, 60(3), 203-218. Web.
TEDx Talks. (2013). Supporting education through community engagement: Sienna Wildfield at TEDxShelburneFalls [Video]. YouTube. Web.