Employing Food Bank in Civic Education as a Pedagogical Tool in Project-based Learning

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to employ food bank in civic education as a pedagogical tool in project-based learning. Two classes of undergraduate students enrolled in required general civic education course in the odd semester of 2017 in the University of Jember participated in food bank project to help tackle impoverished community of Garahan village, Jember, East Java. The study employed qualitative research method. To implement food bank in civic education this research assessed and engaged students into seven essential components of Larmer and Mergendoller’s meaningful projects; A Need to Know, A Driving Question, Student Voice and Choice, 21st Century Skills, Inquiry and Innovation, Feedback and Product, and A Publicly Presented Product. After investigating poor households, students planned and organized fundraising strategies in order to buy a large quantities of non-perishable food so that it looks like a bank to be distributed to those who were in need. Classroom components of the project included assigned readings on poverty, small groups discussion, and writing reflective journals. Students culminated the project publicly in a showcase. The result indicated that food bank project is effective civic pedagogical skill.