Experiential Learning at Smith College: Exploring Agricultural Integration

Author

Lark Wicinas, Smith College
Elsa Weintraub, Smith College

Publication Date

2018

Document Type

Capstone

Study Type

ENV 312

Department

Environmental Science and Policy

Advisors

Alex Barron and Dano Weisbord

Keywords

Agriculture, Smith College, Living learning, Farming food, Applied learning, Experiential learning

Abstract

Smith College has the opportunity to create valuable, contemporary learning experiences by integrating agriculture-based experiential learning resources into the broader curriculum. This project sought to address the role of experiential learning in higher education, as well as explore the ways that this learning and teaching style could be integrated into courses at Smith College. Through a Qualtrics survey of selected faculty, key findings demonstrate that Smith faculty believe that experiential learning is beneficial to their students, and that they have an interest in utilizing a farmsite for experiential class work in the form a living laboratory. This project then identified and evaluated four possible spaces for farms in connection to Smith College campus. Through analysis of this data, organized into a matrix, this project concluded that there are a few avenues in which Smith could establish a farm. To integrate agriculture into the curriculum in the short term, the college could partner with Crimson and Clover Farm in Florence. The major findings from the survey demonstrated that a partnership with Crimson and Clover Farm has certain drawbacks, therefore this project concluded that the Fort Hill property is the best location model to create a research-driven, campus owned farm.

Rights

©2018 Lark Wicinas and Elsa Weintraub

Recommended Citation

Wicinas, Lark and Weintraub, Elsa, "Experiential Learning at Smith College: Exploring Agricultural Integration" (2018). Capstone, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/other_projects/33