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A Practical Approach to Assessment in Service-Learning North Shore Community College
A Practical Approach to Assessment in Service-Learning
North Shore Community College
Overview
• Background information
• Methods of assessment
• Assessment findings
• Actions and Plans
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
