Learning does not have to stop at the classroom door. Teachers can use the people, places, events, and organizations around their school to help learners see how lessons connect to real life. This guide explains why community resources are worth using, how to find them, and three practical ways to bring them into your lessons.
On this page 6 sections
Why use community resources
Bringing the community into teaching has several benefits for learners and schools.
- Learners see real-world uses. They see how what they study in class applies outside school.
- Learners hear from experts. Meeting people who work in a field can inspire learners and help them think about what they might pursue in the future.
- Learners gain new perspectives. For example, a guest speaker who has experienced poverty firsthand can help learners understand the challenges people in poverty face and inspire them to work toward social justice. A visit to a local museum can give learners a deeper understanding of historical events.
- Schools build stronger ties with the community. These connections can lead to a more engaged and supportive community that cares about its learners’ success.
How to identify community resources
The first step is to find out what is available near your school. Community resources can be people, places, events, or organizations. Examples include:
- Local museums, galleries, and historical sites
- Non-profit organizations and community groups
- Local businesses and entrepreneurs
- Government agencies and officials
- Scientists and researchers
- Artists, musicians, and writers
This list is only a starting point. Every community is different, so think about what your own area offers and how each resource could support what you teach.
Three ways to bring community resources into your lessons
Once you know what resources are available, you can build them into your lessons in several ways.
Guest speakers
Inviting a guest speaker is one of the simplest approaches. Speakers let learners learn from people with real experience and hear firsthand accounts. For example, you could invite a local business owner to talk about entrepreneurship, or a scientist to discuss their research.
Field trips
A visit to a museum, historical site, or non-profit organization gives learners a learning experience they cannot get from a textbook. Field trips help learners see how classroom lessons apply to the real world, and they also strengthen the link between the school and the wider community.
Service learning
Service learning is a teaching strategy that makes community service part of the curriculum. Learners apply what they learn in class to real situations while helping others. For example, you could plan a project in which learners volunteer at a local non-profit organization.
Quick guide: matching resources to approaches
| Community resource | Possible approach | Example from this guide |
|---|---|---|
| Local businesses and entrepreneurs | Guest speaker | A business owner talks about entrepreneurship |
| Scientists and researchers | Guest speaker | A scientist discusses their research |
| Museums and historical sites | Field trip | A museum visit to understand historical events |
| Non-profit organizations | Field trip or service learning | Learners volunteer at a local non-profit |
Key takeaway
Community resources give learners richer, more real learning experiences and help connect the school with the people around it. Start by listing what your community offers, then choose the approach that best fits your lesson: a guest speaker, a field trip, or a service learning project.
Frequently asked questions
What are community resources in education?
Community resources are the people, places, events, and organizations outside the school that teachers can use to support learning. Examples include museums, historical sites, non-profit groups, local businesses, government agencies, scientists, and artists.
What are the benefits of using community resources in teaching?
They help learners see how lessons apply to the real world, let them learn from experts, expose them to new perspectives, and build stronger connections between the school and the community.
How can teachers bring community resources into lessons?
Three common ways are inviting guest speakers, organizing field trips, and running service learning projects.
What is service learning?
Service learning is a teaching strategy that makes community service part of the curriculum, so learners apply classroom lessons to real situations. One example is having learners volunteer at a local non-profit organization.
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