Bartering for Community Benefit Project

Abstract

This article describes an experiential exercise called the Bartering for Community Benefit Project (BCBP) and discusses its application in both undergraduate and graduate courses. The BCBP is a student team-driven assignment aimed at creating a shared experience for students to apply course content in their local communities. The BCBP begins with each student team receiving a US$1.00 item from their instructor to be used for bartering. Each student team receives the same item. Subsequently, for example, the item must be bartered by each student team at least 5 times during the first 6 weeks of an 8-week course with individuals outside the classroom. The goal in each barter or exchange transaction is to receive an item of greater value than the one the team currently owns with the final item benefiting a charitable organization of the team’s choosing.