Strengthening collaborative capacity: experiences from a short,intensive field course on ecosystems,health and society |
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| Authors: | Margot W Parkes Johanne Saint-Charles Donald C Cole Maya Gislason Elisabeth Hicks Courtney Le Bourdais |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada;2. Département de communication sociale et publique, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada;3. Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur le bien-être, la santé, la société et l’environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada;4. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;5. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada |
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| Abstract: | A key capacity for engagement in the emerging field of ecohealth is the ability to work collaboratively. Between 2008 and 2010, the Canadian Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health collectively designed and delivered three foundational, intensive, field courses. This paper presents findings derived from both quantitative and qualitative student course evaluation survey data. New insights arise around: the diverse opportunities for learning collaboratively in order to tackle complex socio-ecological issues, the social dynamics of collaborative relationships and learning, and the learning challenges that arise during intensive field courses. The lessons learned from these foundational years have enhanced understanding of the interrelated contributions to collaborative learning and relationship building and their relevance to addressing issues spanning ecosystems, health and society. |
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| Keywords: | Ecohealth collaborative learning collaborative relationships communities of practice student experience |
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