Needs Assessment in Community-Based Learning
Case Library: Garden Film Series “ The Raw & the Cooked, Structuring Sustainability”
Service architecture for physical & virtual garden resources demonstration-gardens.org/touchpoints.html
387 Golden Gate Ave 94102
Description:Sponsored by the Demonstration Gardens, Friends of SYL Central YMCA, Tenderloin Community Benefits District and Autism Social Connection, this series of events was a component of the Build Central Y! campaign, a “cultural event with interactive elements”. Information gleaned from artists’ and community views of sustainability was shared with sponsors & Green Tenderloin Coalition In gauging interest in issues relevant to residents and providing exposure for the concept of neighborhood resilience is a core component of environmental literacy and therefore central to the Demonstration Gardens’ mission.
Assessment objective: Through the lens of a series of public film screenings allow participants in formation of community center to assess community awareness of environmental changes related to land use in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.
Learner profile: Teens, Adults and Seniors with varying degrees of technical ability and experience of film and event management.
Process: Public call, submission of work and showing. Curation by team of people with mixed backgrounds joined by interest. Shown outside on four summer Saturday nights, once each month: July, August, September and October.
Data Artifacts
Table 1: Summary of participation
Screening | July | August | September | October | Total |
curators | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
filmmakers | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
audience | 12 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 49 |
volunteers | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 20 |
respondents | 10 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 49 |
submissions | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 17 |
Analysis: Each event was well-staffed with more support than audience. Those who participated reported having fun and the same crew showed up to help and curate.
Most participants were late teens. Working adults were not represented but some seniors took part. Only one film submitted was unsuitable.
Conclusion: Audiences were 50% smaller than expected reflecting attitudes towards safety at night both in traveling and in sitting outside even in a secured lot to watch movies. This number could have been bolstered by a higher submission rate from filmmakers who would have brought more attendance. SInce responses were 2 to 3 times higher than submissions looking to the manner of interaction with prospects either in communications or physical acceptance of material might yield improved overall engagement.
Asberry /