ETE 2025 | From Classroom to Community: Integrating Real-World Problem Solving Across the Curriculum

Presented by: Palak Gupta As today’s students prepare to enter a dynamic and evolving workforce, instructors across disciplines are looking for ways to move beyond traditional lectures and exams. Real-world experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement are increasingly essential for meaningful learning. This presentation highlights an instructional model that integrates authentic, problem-based learning into course design—equipping students with the skills to address complex, real-world challenges. Using a graduate-level program planning course as a model, we will explore how scaffolded assignments can guide students to mirror real-world program planning processes. Assignments include developing data collection tools, conducting qualitative and community-based assessments, analyzing data, and creating logic models and evaluation plans. Assignments combine collaborative projects, individual tasks, and real-time feedback to ensure both engagement and competency-building. The course culminates in a digital portfolio that reflects students’ applied skills, growth, and reflective learning. This session will offer practical tools and adaptable strategies for faculty seeking to incorporate high-impact practices into their teaching. Whether in health sciences, humanities, or professional fields, attendees will learn how to design project-based learning experiences that are interdisciplinary, equity-centered, and aligned with real-world application. This model empowers students to build creativity, curiosity, and confidence—skills that extend far beyond the classroom.