This course evolves over four terms of study. Students explore the universal within the context of the particular. They consider place-based approaches to education and development at home and in India, the United States, Peru, Nepal, and Tibet/China. Personal learning histories and community stories are used to articulate statements of education and development philosophy. These efforts are shared, reviewed, and incorporated into a web-based profile of the entire class, the students’ communities, and other communities that enrich our learning experience. Also, each member of the class submits a Student Learning Plan, which is updated each term. Over four terms, the class discerns the relationship of lifelong learning with “best practices” in community change and conservation.
Instructor(s):
Country Program Director, Peru
Laura Altobelli is a public health professional specializing in international maternal child health and nutrition. Dr. Altobelli is a professor in the School of Public Health and Administration of the Peruvian Cayetano Heredia University in Lima.
Laura has worked for many years in Latin American community health programs, beginning as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s. She continues as a researcher, evaluator, and project consultant on community health and nutrition programs for a variety of international cooperation agencies and NGOs. She conceptualizes, designs, and provides guidance for the work of Future Generations/Peru among hundreds of community health clinics and programs throughout Peru. She also teaches Pedagogy of Place for the students’ residential in Peru.
Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
University of Missouri at Columbia
