Teaching CSL at scale brings unique challenges. In this Learning Lab, we explore strategies, tools, and lessons learned for coordinating Community Service Learning with large student cohorts while maintaining quality, reciprocity, and meaningful engagement
Coordinating Community Service Learning (CSL) with very large groups of students places pressure on course design, partner relationships, logistics, and meaningful engagement. Many teachers at VU have shared the same challenge: How do you safeguard reciprocity, depth, and quality when your cohort grows to 100, 200, or even 500 students?
In this Learning Lab, we build on insights from the VU case study on large-scale CSL implementation and explore what it takes to design sustainable, impactful learning experiences at scale. Together, we will examine different course formats, partnership models, and coordination structures that can help maintain balance between educational goals and community needs.
We will exchange experiences, identify bottlenecks, and reflect on strategies for managing complexity such as clustering student projects, creating layered support systems, fostering long-term partnerships, and ensuring that community organisations remain true partners rather than overloaded stakeholders.
This session aims to support educators who want to scale their CSL practice while staying grounded in reciprocity, clarity, and purposeful collaboration.
A link to the case study can be found here: A Multiple Case Study of Implementing Community Service-Learning in Large-Scale Higher Education Courses
