Our Evidence Base
The academic evidence base and background to three ingredients, Project Based Learning, Real World Learning and Community Connected Learning authored by UCL.
There is growing international consensus that young people need to develop a broader range of knowledge, skills, mindsets and behaviours to help them thrive in the face of constant change. Schools and colleges play an important role in this mission. Relationships between educational institutions and their local communities are ever more important if we hope to truly prepare young people for success.
Community Connected Learning (CCL) is a form of experiential learning where students collaborate with external partners to address real-world challenges as part of their broader education. Through community projects and partnerships, students apply their theoretical knowledge to practice, develop transferable skills and become more life-ready. This type of learning equips students with the knowledge and skills to contribute significantly to society and be leaders of the future in their chosen field and profession.
Community Connected Learning draws on a rich tradition of place-based education, youth social action, service learning and global citizenship. At the core of CCL are approaches that help to deepen students’ understanding of the world around them, while learning how to change it for the better - both within our classrooms and schools as well as in the community beyond. The aim is to help students build a strong sense of belonging, purpose, and agency - all qualities that will help them become leaders of their own learning.
Studies show that CCL can help empower young people with the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and behaviours to actively participate in society and, most importantly, to realise their capacity to play a positive and valued role in community change. It can also help address issues of motivation and relevance, while building learner agency over time. Please see our evidence base for more supporting evidence for Community Connected Learning.
In the video clip below, Laura Hay provides an overview of community connected learning.
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