A Practical Approach to Assessment in Service Learning

A Practical Approach to Assessment in Service-Learning

North Shore Community College

Outcomes

• Explore an assessment process for service-learning and examine the methods employed

• Become familiar with factors that motivate faculty to take part in service-learning and continue to support the program

• Discuss assessment findings and plans for closing the loop

Overview

• Background information

• Methods of assessment

• Assessment findings

• Closing the loop

Background Information

• North Shore Community College (NSCC)

• NSCC Service-Learning Program

• NSCC Service-Learning Program Self-Study Process

STUD

ENTS

STUD

ENTS FACULTY

STUD

ENTS FACULTY

COMMUNITYORGANIZATIONS

Planning of Assessment

Identify goals of assessment• Students experience• Faculty motivation and engagement• Suitability and satisfaction of organizations

Identify methods of assessment• Surveys• Site visitations and interviews

STUDENTS SURVEY

Understanding of Course Contents

Personal Development

• Understood issues in the community-81%• Gained self-confidence-77%• Developed team work skills-77%• Respect for Diversity-74%• Time management skills-67%

Most Satisfying Aspects

Note: in counts

Top responses included• Community Service (28)• Satisfaction (21)• Interacting with people (17)• Learning new materials (11)• Hands on experience (9)• Working with kids (9)

Most Satisfying Aspects

Least Satisfying Aspects

A few complaints:• Commute to the site (2)

• Scheduling (2)

• Paperwork (2)

• Coordinating with their groups, agencies, & clients (4)

Recommendations

• Advertise the program • Increase the number of choices/

organizations available to do a project

FACULTY SURVEYMotivational Factors of NSCC Faculty to Get Involved with and Persist with

Service-Learning

Literature Review• Higher Education

Faculty motivated by student learning outcomes/Peers

Vs.• Community Colleges

Faculty motivated by student learning outcomes/ S-L Coordinator

Methods• Development of Survey

• Implementation of Survey

• Response Rate

Demographics

Male31%

Female69%

Years at NSCC

Why did you get involved in service-learning?

Who encouraged you to incorporate service-learning into your course(s)?

Do you receive institutional recognition for your involvement with service-learning?

Have you incorporated service-learning into your course within the last 12-15 months?

If YES, what ensures your continued participation in service-learning?

If NO, why not?

Key Findings

What motivated your involvement:• Key role of Service-Learning Faculty• Self-Directed • Key role of Service-Learning Coordinator• Valued Experiential Education/Active-Learning

Key Findings Cont’d

Persistence with Service-Learning• Student satisfaction • Increase in student skills and abilities

COMMUNITY PARTNERSIn-Depth Interviews & Survey

Purpose of Interviews• To know about programs and services offered

• To understand agency expectations

• To evaluate any potential health and safety risks

• To receive feedback about students

Methods

• In-Depth Interviews

• Survey

Interviews-Key Findings

• Positives• Orientations• Satisfaction with student work

• Challenges• Student/Agency communication regarding

scheduling

Survey-Key Findings• Positives

• Orientations• Students explained S-L objectives• Positive attitude• Served needs of organization

• Challenges• Identify themselves as NSCC Students• Communicate-create closure

Conclusion• All sites would welcome NSCC students back

in the future

CLOSING THE LOOP

Implications• Maintain strong ties with Service-Learning Faculty.

• Create more recognition for Service-Learning Faculty.

• Create more recognition of Service-Learning students.

• Further qualitative study of faculty perceptions of rewards and recognition.

Closing the Loop

Students Recognition

• Service-learning on Transcripts

Flexibility• One credit hour class

Faculty Recognition

• Inclusion in Celebration• Years of Service

• Letters

Flexibility• Jump Start option

Closing the Loop

Closing the Loop

Publicity• Activities in the Bulletin• Revision of public website

Closing the Loop

Institutional Commitment• GenEd Outcomes• Job Postings

Contact us

Cate KaluznySenior Coordinator, [email protected]

Saradha RameshSenior Coordinator, Academic [email protected]

Dawne SpanglerDirector, Center for Teaching, Learning and [email protected]