Interdisciplinary and Project-Based Service Learning for Smart and Connected Communities: Insights from ENDEAVR

Higher education institutions are increasingly interested in innovative pedagogies that offer hands-on, project-based learning experiences in interdisciplinary settings and enable students to address real-world challenges with emerging technologies. To address this demand, a team of educators, in collaboration with community and industry partners, created an interdisciplinary and project-based service-learning program named Envisioning the Neo-traditional Development by Embracing the Autonomous Vehicles Realm (ENDEAVR). The team piloted the program during the 2019-2020 academic year. Program evaluation was conducted using both pre-post surveys and focus groups centered on the program's impact on students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This article summarizes key lessons, challenges and experiences from the pilot program, and shares insights on curriculum design and program implementation.