1. A Practical Approach
to Assessment
in Service-Learning
North Shore Community College

2. 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

3. Overview
• Background information
• Methods of assessment
• Assessment findings
• Closing the loop

4. Background Information
• North Shore Community College (NSCC)
• NSCC Service-Learning Program
• NSCC Service-Learning Program Self-Study
Process

5. STUDENTS
STUDENTS
FACULTY
STUDENTS
FACULTY
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS

6. 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

7. STUDENTS SURVEY

8. Understanding of Course Contents

9. 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%

10. Most Satisfying Aspects
Note: in counts

11. 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

12. Least Satisfying Aspects
A few complaints:
• Commute to the site (2)
• Scheduling (2)
• Paperwork (2)
• Coordinating with their groups, agencies, & clients (4)

13. Recommendations
• Advertise the program
• Increase the number of choices/
organizations available to do a project

14. FACULTY SURVEY
Motivational Factors of NSCC Faculty
to Get Involved with and Persist with
Service-Learning

15. Literature Review
• Higher Education
Faculty motivated by student learning
outcomes/Peers
Vs.
• Community Colleges
Faculty motivated by student learning
outcomes/ S-L Coordinator

16. Methods
• Development of Survey
• Implementation of Survey
• Response Rate

17. Demographics
Male
31%
Female
69%

18. Years at NSCC

19. Why did you get involved in service-learning?

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

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

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

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

24. If NO, why not?

25. 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

26. Key Findings Cont’d
Persistence with Service-Learning
• Student satisfaction
• Increase in student skills and abilities

27. COMMUNITY PARTNERS
In-Depth Interviews & Survey

28. 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

29. Methods
• In-Depth Interviews
• Survey

30. Interviews-Key Findings
• Positives
• Orientations
• Satisfaction with student work
• Challenges
• Student/Agency communication regarding
scheduling

31. 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

32. Conclusion
• All sites would welcome NSCC students back
in the future

33. CLOSING THE LOOP

34. 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.

35. Closing the Loop
Students
Recognition
• Service-learning on Transcripts
Flexibility
• One credit hour class

36. Faculty
Recognition
• Inclusion in Celebration
• Years of Service
• Letters
Flexibility
• Jump Start option
Closing the Loop

37. Closing the Loop
Publicity
• Activities in the Bulletin
• Revision of public website

38. Closing the Loop
Institutional Commitment
• GenEd Outcomes
• Job Postings

39. Contact us
Cate Kaluzny
Senior Coordinator, Service-Learning
caluzny@northshore.edu
Saradha Ramesh
Senior Coordinator, Academic Assessment
sramesh@northshore.edu
Dawne Spangler
Director, Center for Teaching, Learning and Assessment
dspangle@northshore.edu