Collaborating Successfully with Community Partners and Clients in Online Service-Learning Classes

Abstract

Teaching online students to collaborate effectively with community partners and to solve problems through service-learning projects are “on trend” topics for technical communication faculty. This article presents collaboration specifics as well as the author's Collaborative Communication Framework (CCF) to show the types of communication needed to work well with community partners/clients in service-learning. Tips for teaching, including using the CCF and service-learning, will be highlighted so faculty can make choices about how to meet curricular goals while addressing community partner/client needs. Resources for teaching will be offered. Successful student projects will show detailed examples of key ideas throughout the article.

Immediate Impacts of Online Service-Learning Engagements on Partner Communities: A Mixed Methods Approach

“…The research nding also implies that online engagement programs should be exible and adaptable to the changing circumstances and challenges posed by the online environment such as technical issues and con ict of schedules. This requires the campus stakeholders and the CPOs to be proactive and responsive in addressing any issues that may arise as well as communicating effectively with each other and with the participants to ensure a positive and productive online engagement experience (Dumlao, 2022).…”

“…This nding is consistent with previous studies that have highlighted the importance of communication and collaboration in an online learning environment (de Nooijer et al, 2021; Johler, 2022). More speci cally, according to Dumlao (2022), online SL relies heavily on communication to establish and maintain the relationships and expectations among the different stakeholders. Thus, frequent, timely feedback and evaluation are necessary to monitor and enhance the quality and impact of the online SL.…”

“…Conducting a thorough needs assessment, providing adequate training and support, and ensuring the relevance and sustainability of the online service are some ways to achieve this alignment (Derreth & Wear, 2021;Dumlao, 2022).…”

“…Matthews (2019) also documented that community partners face challenges and limitations in SL partnerships such as power imbalances, communication gaps, unrealistic expectations, and lack of sustainability. Dumlao (2022) notes that technical di culties, time constraints, cultural differences, and con icting expectations are also issues encountered in online SL.…”

Virtual Reality for Teacher Training

“…Many educational guidance specialists and advisers, to promote change, argue conflict is needed to transform individuals or circumstances for something new to develop. If one approaches conflict as a problem to be solved or an opportunity to persuade, more constructive choices are likely than if one views conflict as something to be feared (Dumlao, 2018).…”