Difference between revisions of "CIRAL Group Project"

Revision as of 00:35, 27 October 2011

Project Description (purpose, etc.)

The goal of the CIRAL is to create a sustaining enterprise at Evergreen (whether it be program, class, organization, or something else) that engage in research and action through a focus on Civic Intelligence. Due to the nature of this focus students will necessarily become active leaders. The program will encourage and teach social action for the betterment of not just our community, but those around the world. The work will not be restricted to working with local organizations, but — at least at the onset — there will probably be a focus on the local community. The hope is that this class will persist over time, perhaps somewhere between 2-10 years, although the ideal is an indefinite end.

Among the goals of this project are:

• Creating a culture of lifelong education
• Building the skills necessary to be effective citizens
• Integrating community with academia, starting locally but expanding in later years
• Integrating social theories with social practice
• Exploring, encouraging, and cultivating social innovation, social imagination, and civic intelligence

Why is CIRAL Needed?

Why Evergreen?

In this section we discuss why Evergreen is a natural home for such an enterprise. Part of this should describe some past as well as projects that are going on now. Ultimately this should include ways in which Evergreen might need to change institutionally to better support this work.

We could (should?) also discuss somewhere why this is such an important endeavor right now (educating students for 21st Century realities) and other relevant current factors (endemic budget crises; employment; globalization?)

Course Description

The Civic Intelligence Research and Action Lab is a program for students that want to learn about studying, planning, and enacting meaningful change in the public sphere through ongoing study and work. The core of the CIRAL curriculum will build a knowledge of group dynamics and organizational principles, and equip students with the tools to engage in ongoing research and action projects that address important civic issues. In addition to the action-oriented perspective, there will be ongoing research and theoretical work to help understand the context of the work, historically, currently, and for the future. The unique structure of CIRAL allows projects to span multiple academic quarters and students to participate according to their academic goals.

CIRAL gives students the opportunity to work collaboratively in the classroom and beyond the academic walls. Projects are student originated and partner with organizations in the community of Olympia and beyond. Most projects are interdisciplinary, opening opportunity for any student to pursue their chosen field of study while learning lifelong skills of collaboration and teamwork. Many graduate programs conduct similar projects. But, the CIRAL curriculum is designed to make participation possible at what ever level you are at in your academic career.

For a listing of current projects and more information about the Civic Intelligence Research and Action Lab, please visit our website. (Should we put together a web site — or is there one?!?)

Is it to early to think about possible logos?

CIRAL Implementation

Follow the link above
Onemic18 01:23, 27 October 2011 (PDT)

CIRAL Components

This section is where we are developing all of the pieces we would like to see in the final Lab.

See the above link
Onemic18 01:30, 27 October 2011 (PDT)

Stakeholders

As we flesh out the Implementation Model we'll be able to get a better idea of who we need involved in what capacity. This may become more than just a description of who will be involved in what capacity. Part of our consideration should be how to get these people involved and excited about CIRAL.

Should there be a description or some discussion about each of these groups?

• Students in Patterns of Intelligence program
• Prospective CIRAL students at Evergreen
• Olympia and other local community members
• Center for Community-Based Learning and Action (CCBLA)
• Evergreen Faculty
• Evergreen Administration
• Evergreen Alumni, especially members of the Evergreen Alumni Entrepreneur's Association
• Students and Faculty of other community action based programs
• Donors (N.B. if allowed. See 'Barriers and Constraints' on this page)
• Others??

References and Resources

books, websites, organizations, etc.

CIRAL Group Project Metacognition

I've moved everything into the link above.
Onemic18 01:01, 27 October 2011 (PDT)