6 Innovative Ideas to Enhance Community and Family Studies Learning

Hands-on learning experiences can bring subjects to life for students in powerful ways. For the Community and Family Studies course, excursions and incursions provide opportunities to directly engage with topics and deepen understanding of real-world applications. Here are 6 ideas shared by our Community and Family Studies Members inside The CAFS Collective to enhance learning beyond the classroom.

Research Comes Alive with a Dedicated Day
Giving students a full day dedicated to primary research skills can help with the Independent Research Project in Community and Family Studies. Invite university lecturers or professionals to speak on ethical behaviours, methodologies and focus areas. Students work directly with guests on developing research questions and study design. This hands-on experience brings abstract concepts into focus.

Groups in Context through Local Organisations
Rather than travelling far, leverage services already in your community. Teachers can organise speakers from organisations supporting people with disabilities, youth, homeless people or aged individuals. Hearing first-hand experiences and learning about available resources helps contextualise Community and Family Studies content and shows how it plays out locally.

Customised CAFS Days are Memorable
Get creative by planning customised Community and Family Studies Days centred around topics like Parenting and Caring or Groups in Context. Invite past Community and Family Studies students or subject experts to participate. Unique experiences stick in students' minds longer than traditional lessons.

Online Resources Expand Possibilities
Certain organisations provide excellent virtual learning opportunities in Community and Family Studies. The Big Issue Classroom and Barnardos are two examples shared. Their online libraries, videos and guest speakers can be easily accessed regardless of location. This allows enriching lessons that would otherwise not be possible.

Motivation through Real-World Connections
Bringing the course to life with experiential lessons boosts student buy-in. As one teacher noted, creative approaches that go beyond textbooks show how Community and Family Studies applies in reality. This sparks interest in even reluctant learners by making dry content engaging and meaningful.

The possibilities are endless in Community and Family Studies when thinking outside the box. Combining classroom learning with innovative excursions and incursions nurtures a deeper understanding of key concepts and issues. Hands-on experiences, community connections, and motivational techniques all work to enhance this impactful subject area.