ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the two primary activities of service-learning at the institute, namely, community design and construction charrettes and interdisciplinary design studios. It evaluates the program of service-learning with a focus on both reflection and reciprocity. At the Interdisciplinary Design Institute, service-learning occurs mainly through charrettes and studio projects. A community-oriented design and construction charrette, in which interdisciplinary teams work intensively for three days developing a schematic design proposal for a given problem, takes place during the first week of every fall semester. One primary area of needed improvement in service-learning projects is in balancing the service and learning outcomes. One of the core relationships in service-learning is that between students and faculty members, all of whom are engaged with the community in this educational experience. Reciprocity between students and community depends upon the specific service-learning experience.
