Tools & Resources

This nonprofit is the oldest and largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to helping colleges and universities enhance their public mission through civic and community engagement. Their “Resources” page is a veritable treasure trove of articles, webinars, guidebooks, and tools for learning more about community engagement and models for civic education. Perhaps most useful, their syllabi library contains example engaged course materials from faculty across the country. Not for the faint of heart or those easily overwhelmed, but if you’re in the mood to browse and click, this site can be a great way to learn about the field from a variety of angles. 

One of the most helpful sites for exploring what the engaged humanities look like in practice. Includes more than 2000 example projects from universities across the U.S. as well as informational essays on the field and a blog featuring practitioner’s experiences doing publicly engaged work.

This guide, produced by the New York Times, is great for faculty who are interested in designing a podcast assignment but aren’t sure where to start. It includes step-by-step instructions, scaffolded activities to break the project up, and copious examples and explanations of even the most minute logistics. Highly recommended. See also their “Making a Podcast that Matters” for even more examples and tips for producing engaging podcasts.

ArcGIS StoryMaps is a platform for creating online maps that immerse users in a narrative. The software allows you to incorporate text, photos, and video into a custom interactive map that users can explore at their own pace. Best understood through examples; see the StoryMap Molly Hiro (University of Portland) created with her students examining the gentrification of Portland’s neighborhoods through local African American literature. The StoryMap site also features a set of sample projects for browsing. Interested in using this platform? Be sure to check with your school to see if you can get free access through a subscription UP already has.

This guide contains a large set of tools and resources for creating all kinds of online, public-facing projects; also links to several examples for those interested in exploring through model projects.

Zines are self-published, DIY booklets or magazines with a long history in activist circles (especially feminist organizing) as a means of circulating information, collaborating with others, and experimenting with novel forms and ideas. While zines were originally produced using physical materials, and still are, there are now several platforms for creating and sharing zines online. Students tend to love zines for their retro vibe; they can be a great individual or collaborative project that move students beyond traditional forms of composition. Flipsnack is just one of many online platforms for creating digital zines.