Feminist Dispatches from the Library: POSC 401 / WGSS 402At — CSULB Center for Community Engagement
In this project, students will select books available through the library that are not on the syllabus but connect to course themes and hold value for the broader CSULB community. Working individually or in small groups, students will create short written dispatches or record podcasts that highlight the book’s relevance, accessibility, and importance for community readers. Their work will culminate in a collaborative digital newsletter or podcast series that shares knowledge beyond the classroom, fostering literacy, civic engagement, and dialogue between students and the wider community.
Service-Learning Learning Outcomes for the Project
Academic/Intellectual Growth
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Students will critically evaluate and connect library resources (books outside the syllabus) to course concepts, demonstrating the ability to extend academic learning beyond prescribed materials.
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Students will synthesize scholarly and community-relevant perspectives through written dispatches or recorded podcasts, strengthening research, writing, and communication skills.
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Students will apply analytical and interpretive methods to explain the relevance of chosen books to broader course themes and disciplinary approaches.
Civic and Community Engagement
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Students will consider the needs and interests of the broader CSULB and local community in identifying books that foster dialogue, learning, and civic awareness.
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Students will produce accessible and engaging knowledge-sharing formats (newsletter or podcast) that promote equitable access to information and encourage community readership.
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Students will recognize their role as knowledge-brokers who can connect academic insights with community needs and public discourse.
Collaboration and Leadership
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Students will develop collaborative skills by working in teams to produce a shared newsletter or co-created podcast, demonstrating accountability, coordination, and respectful dialogue.
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Students will engage in peer learning by giving and receiving feedback, collectively shaping their contributions into a coherent, community-oriented product.
Personal and Professional Development
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Students will strengthen public communication skills by tailoring their dispatches/podcasts to a non-specialist audience, bridging academic and community contexts.
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Students will reflect on their personal growth as engaged scholars who contribute to the public good by promoting literacy, access, and civic engagement.
No risk involved.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 10 | hours per placement |