Experiential learning is more than just a slogan at American University; it's something that students really do. Students in COMM-105: Visual Literacy are putting the concept into practice this semester thanks to a collaboration with Warrenton, Virginia's Airlie Berkshire Farm.

School of Communication professor Sarah Menke-Fish's Visual Literacy class unites students from many fields to examine the importance of visual storytelling. In order to convey concepts in interesting and significant ways, the course pushes students to both evaluate and produce images using a variety of media, including photography, graphic design, video, and digital production.

Airlie is the perfect setting for this kind of learning. In addition to being serene, the 300-acre AU-owned property has a hotel, a meeting facility, and a functioning farm. Airlie has started a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that brings fresh, locally farmed vegetables to Warrenton neighbors as well as the AU community..

The task for this year's Comm-105 class is to put together a revised timeline, a self-guided tour, and updated signage to come up with new and creative ways to tell the farm's history. These and numerous other concepts were developed during a recent brainstorming session with the goal of emphasizing Airlie's function as a community asset and real-world example of sustainable agriculture.

The first partnership with Airlie Farm began two years ago when Professor Sarah Menke-Fish's Visual Literacy class explored ways to showcase Airlie's contribution to bringing sustainable, fresh food to campus. This class designed signage near True Burger to highlight the farm-to-table connection, produced videos now playing in the Terrace Dining Room (TDR), and promoted Airlie across campus through buttons, photos, and social media.

Two weeks ago, the new class began their project for the semester by visiting Airlie. Students were given an up-close look at the Angus cattle and Berkshire hogs that are a part of the site's sustainable farming system. That first-hand experience inspired fresh ideas, like redoing the hotel's history timeline and creating a treasure hunt for the entire farm, in addition to producing images and videos that showcased the CSA program.

Eventually, each of these projects will contribute to a broader body of work. Each student will have an online portfolio by the end of the semester that includes their Airlie projects in addition to other creative endeavors. Beyond merely completing an assignment, it's an opportunity to apply ideas like narrative, symbolism, and design as instruments to foster community, captivate audiences, and leave a lasting impression.

This is how SOC's Visual Literacy class not only introduces students to media and design but also serves as a reminder of the importance of learning by doing—showing how concepts learned in the classroom can be applied in the real world.