A student came into the Social Change classroom one recent morning expressing outrage at something she had seen in the Pizza Café, near the dorms on Main Campus.
Social Change in America teaches students ways they can take action to solve problems in their local communities. They learn six different methods such as elevating awareness of the issue, redirecting people toward new options and petitioning for ballot initiatives.
The student had noticed a sign in the café advertising sodas for $8.50. It seemed unlikely, but the instructor saw an opportunity to illustrate the methods they had been studying. “I haven’t seen this for myself – but if the café does charge $8.50 for a soda, what are some things we could do about it?”
Suggestions began flying immediately. Boycott the café. Bring your own. Ask the café to lower the price. Take the issue to the president of the college. Use social media to raise awareness. Use GoFundMe to raise money for students who can’t afford it. Buy sodas at Costco and give them away as a peaceful protest. Every idea went up on the whiteboard.
Next, they put their ideas to a vote. Each student could pick a first and second choice, with the votes tallied beside each idea. Some of them reflected for several minutes before declaring their favorites. (Top vote-getters were the social media campaign and talking to President Locke.)
Social Change students brainstorming, L-R: Jullian, Sarah, Franco, Kenassa, Anastasia, Matthew, Briggs.
As it turned out, $8.50 was the price for pizza and a soda. But the mere possibility had served a purpose: At the end of the discussion, the instructor fit every single idea into one of those six methods for creating social change. It was exactly the lesson he was planning to teach – only bubblier.
Social Change in America is taken in the third or fourth year of the OLS program and is one of the many courses students take to earn their associate degree. Students in this course study ways they can take action to solve problems in their local communities.
Occupational & Life Skills (OLS) is an associate degree program at Bellevue College for students with learning disabilities. In our uniquely supportive skills-based program, students apply academic knowledge through community activities, service learning and social experiences. Students identify a career pathway, gain marketable, workplace-ready competencies, develop better interpersonal skills and complete an internship in alignment with their career goals.
Learn more about our program at an upcoming Information Session, open to all prospective students, family members/guardians, educators, counselors and other service providers. Come learn why OLS Bellevue College is one of the best colleges for students with learning disabilities.
Last Updated May 30, 2023