Agriculture and International Development with Dr. Michael Burton

Dr. Michael Burton

Assoc. Professor

Name and title of course

Agriculture and International Development (ISL), AGA 495

Purpose of course

The Agriculture and International Development Integrated Service Learning (see below) course is designed to provide students with each of three major learning dimensions: classroom education concerning the challenges to agricultural production in the tropics; classroom, language practice and interpersonal experience to promote understanding and respect for another culture (i.e. within a Spanish-speaking developing nation); and direct service assisting with family and community development through establishing owner- or community-selected horticultural, agronomic and livestock practices to improve nutrition, health, income, and well-being.

Service-Learning Integrated Course

Integrated Service-Learning (ISL) that incorporates a community service experience with classroom instruction has been integrated into this course to provide a community based learning experience. Service-Learning addresses the practice of citizenship and promotes an awareness of and participation in public affairs. The Integrated Service-Learning Course requires a minimum of 15 hours of unpaid service to a not-for-profit community organization, government agency or public service provider. The community service placement will relate to the course learning objectives as outlined in this syllabus. Reflection assignments are assigned to help students understand discipline concepts and develop higher order critical thinking skills. Additionally, this course provides students with real world experience that can be included on resumes, offers the ability to test career choices, to apply theories and concepts learned in class and make connections to the real world, and the opportunity to have a positive impact in our community. To assess the integration of the service-learning portion of this course, CASL staff will administer an assessment during the last three weeks of the semester (either online or in person). The evaluation results will assist your instructor in the further development of this course, especially as it relates to the service-learning project. Results are provided to your instructor after the grades are submitted to the Registrar’s Office.