Context must be built into the curriculum by using the local community as a resource to provide for the special contextual needs of the college. In our local community, we have both industrial and agricultural businesses. Faculty learning communities can use Tech Prep and Workforce Development activities of the college to find and produce appropriate contextual learning problems for students. These contextual problems are not easy. For the group to succeed, students must be given opportunities to write and plan small similar activities prior to attempting a difficult task.
Students can ask other faculty to assist.
The horticultural faculty can provide specific information about plants, soils, and other materials. Building trades and drafting faculty can provide insight into reading and interpreting an architectural drawing and materials. Speech and English faculty can provide content on communicating with local businesses and gaining appropriate information from the businesses to prepare their bid as well as how to present their bid in an appropriate format to the whole class. Business and computer information faculty could provide technology and training to help make the process less cumbersome. Clearly, the task of the faculty is formidable.