Collaborations between Elementary Schools and Higher Education: Lessons Learned from Community-Engaged Science Education Efforts

Introduction

In the last twenty years there has been an increased emphasis on service learning projects and community engagement efforts which link elementary schools and institutions of higher education. These collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts between schools and academics allow each to work with and learn from one another to address real-world issues and problems (Boyer, 1996). At their best, community engaged scholarship efforts are designed to be mutually beneficial for schools, teachers, communities, higher education institutions, and university faculty (Maton, 2008; Norris-Tirrell, Lambert-Pennington, & Hyland, 2010).

Collaborations between elementary schools and institutions of higher education have taken many forms. They have ranged from efforts to increase teacher and pre-service teachers’ skills to bolstering content knowledge of teachers and students in key disciplines such as science where U.S. rankings worldwide are reason for concern (OECD, 2014). The recent adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) (Achieve, 2013), which include more in-depth emphasis on scientific core knowledge, interdisciplinary connections, and practice creates a natural place where higher education and schools can collaborate in their communities. Science education collaborations have taken the form of tutoring, mentoring (Moseley, Ramsey, & Ruff, 2004), afterschool programming (Cartwright, 2012; Cone, 2009, 2012; Cox-Petersen, Spencer, & Crawford, 2005), outreach education (Falter et al., 2011; Felzien & Salem, 2008; Kalivas, 2008; LaRiviere, Miller, & Millard, 2007; Thompson, Bickmore, Graham, & Yanchar, 2007; Woodard et al., 2011), science fairs/nights (Orleski, 2013; Theall & Bond, 2013), and traveling exhibits (Kamela & Gammon, 2011). They have also utilized applied projects in the community such as community gardens (Reeves & Emeagwali, 2010), restoring outdoor spaces (Schon, Eitel, Bingaman, Miller, & Rittenburg, 2014; Wilson, Bradbury, & McGlasson, 2015), and establishing a nature center (Werner, Voce, Openshaw, & Simons, 2002). These efforts differ in scope, intensity, duration, and context.

The goal of this chapter is to examine service learning efforts and community partnerships formed between elementary schools and institutions of higher education around science education. The types and characteristics of the efforts will be considered, examining the typology of these projects using a newly developed framework for service learning and community engagement based on work done by Sigmon (1997), Terry and Bohnenberger (2004), Daniels (2013), the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2 International Federation, 2014), and Delano-Oriaran (2015). The potential benefits of forming these partnerships for schools, higher education, and communities will be articulated. The impact of these efforts on different stakeholders including teachers, students, schools, and institutions of higher education, including faculty, pre-service teachers, and college students, will be considered. Innovative projects examining each of the dimensions of NGSS will be reviewed. Finally, the chapter will consider best practices in implementing, documenting, and evaluating these efforts to improve their utility and make positive contributions to science education in the United States.