To those of you interested in evaluation, you might want to read an
article in the latest issue (Fall 1996) of the Michigan Journal of
Community Service-Learning:
Driscoll A et. al. An assessment model for service-learning:
comprehensive case studies of impact on faculty, students, community and
institution. p. 66
Here's the abstract: A comprehensive case study model of assessment
developed at Portland State University responds to the need to measrure
the impact of service-learning on four constituencies (student, faculty,
community and institution). The case studies blend quantitative and
qualitative measures in order to determine the most effective and
practical tools to measure service-learning impact and to provide feedback
for continuous improvement of practice. Insights from the design process
and preliminary results have potential value for institutions with similar
agendas for service-learning and community partnerships."
I find the authors' case study approach accessible and appealing, and
novel in that it assesses the impact of service-learning across all 4 main
constituencies. In fact, we've contracted with the study team to evaluate
service-learning in health professions education across our grantees.
Sarena Seifer
Health Professions Schools in Service to the Nation
Community-Campus Partnerships for Health
On Tue, 18 Feb 1997,
Elizabeth Ilene Cooper wrote:
> I have been on the list for a short time and have gotten alot of good
> information so far. I am also interested in evaluation tools for
> Service-Learning. The assessment of learning seems to be the most
> difficult task one has in justifying S-L. Any information would be helpful.
> My e-mail address is:
> n9648782@cc.wwu.edu
> Thanks for your input.
>
> ec
>
> On Mon, 17 Feb 1997 d2pcgrig@fra00.fsu.umd.edu wrote:
>
> > Frostburg State University
> >
> > M E M O R A N D U M
> >
> > Date: 17-Feb-1997 06:39pm GMT
> > From: David Griggs
> > D2PCGRIG
> > Dept: Lane Center
> > Tel No: (301) 687-4151
> >
> > TO: Remote Addressee ( _service-learning@csf.Colorado.EDU )
> >
> >
> > Subject: Learning Communities
> >
> > Hello to everyone on the list,
> >
> > Here at Frostburg State University in western Maryland, we are creating
> > several different kinds of learning communities to be implemented in the Fall
> > 1997 semester. At the present time, seven learning communities are being
> > created: 1) Financial Communications - Money Talk, 2) Leadership Development,
> > 3) Culture, Communication and Community, 4) War and Peace in the Modern World,
> > 5) Latino Student, 6) Frostburg's Global Village: An International Studies
> > Learning Community, and 7) Learning and Teaching.
> >
> > In the "Learning and Teaching" learning community, we are working on
> > coordinating/integrating four different courses with service learning:
> > Freshman Composition, Introduction to Literature, General Psychology and
> > Introduction to Higher Education. Twenty-two incoming freshman will be
> > enrolled in this learning community with the FSU "READ TO SUCCEED!" program as
> > the main focal point to bring these classes together.
> >
> > The Introduction to Higher Education course will provide the service
> > learning component by training students to become tutors for local K-8 grade
> > students, the General Psychology course will have students learn to identify
> > the necessary ingredients for literacy, while the English courses will develop
> > students' skills in describing their own experiences as well as their
> > appreciation for the written word.
> >
> > Since we are beginning to develop these learning communities at FSU, we
> > are looking for various resources available to assist faculty members on
> > developing learning communities. We are searching for research on learning
> > communities and other books written on the topic of learning communities to
> > place on reserve in our library for interested faculty.
> >
> > We are also trying to locate various kinds of evaluation instruments
> > other Universities have used when evaluating student behavior or student
> > satisfaction of learning communities. We have instruments for evaluating
> > faculty teaching, but we are in need of evaluating how students felt connected
> > to their respective learning community.
> >
> > If anyone has any information on the subject of learning communities,
> > (especially those involving service learning), please write me back at the
> > e-mail address listed below.
> >
> > Thank you in advance for your responses!
> >
> >
> > David Griggs
> > Asst. Director, Lane Center & Campus Activities
> > Center for Community Service Learning & Leadership
> > Frostburg State University
> > 235 Lane Center
> > Frostburg, MD 21532
> > (301) 687-4151 (Office)
> > (301) 687-7049 (Fax)
> > E-mail: d2pcgrig@fra00.fsu.umd.edu
> >
> >
> >
> >
>