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Assessment of Service-Learning
Assessment is essential to all programs and initiatives, including academic servicelearning. Beginning with the fall of 2013, both integrated and component service-learning
students were asked to complete a survey at the end of their service-learning course. The
survey examines the student’s perception of expected outcomes related to and having
completed a service-learning course, along with their perception of their role as an ethical
leader, who is culturally competent and who is or intends to be engaged in their
communities. Students also rate their community partner for their service-learning
experience and their service-learning course. Results from the survey continue to inform
how academic service-learning is delivered coupled with opportunities for growth and
provides a lens from which to view areas of success and determine areas for
improvement.
Of the 2,700 students who engaged in service-learning coursework, 374 or 14%
completed the survey. The survey was administered during the last of week of class
through Survey Monkey, and consisted of 15 course outcome questions that examined
critical thinking skills, communication skills, career and teamwork, civic responsibility,
and academic development and educational success as it related to the students’ servicelearning course/experience; 15 questions from the MSU Public Affairs Scale that
examined ethical leadership, cultural competence, and community engagement; 6
questions regarding the students’ service-learning professor, 3 questions regarding the
students’ community partner, and 3 questions regarding the students’ overall experience
with service-learning. All questions consisted of a 5-point Likert scale from 1=Strongly
Disagree to 5=Strongly Agree. Overall mean scores for each of the survey question areas
are provided in the following tables; details of the survey scores can be found in the
appendix. The data captured will serve as a baseline to measure future service-learning
outcomes.
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Table 1: Service-Learning Student Outcomes “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” Responses
Based on Responses to Questions: Upon
completion of this course I: (see detail)
Number of Responses
Average Score
Percent “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
I
C
T
Critical Thinking Outcomes
275
99
374
4.14
4.08
4.11
87
79
83
Communication Skills Outcome
275
99
374
4.31
4.39
4.35
92
91
92
Career and Teamwork Outcomes
275
99
374
4.36
4.37
4.37
92
92
92
Civic Responsibility Outcomes
275
99
374
4.24
4.23
4.24
90
86
88
Academic Development & Educational
Success Outcomes
274
99
373
4.36
4.41
4.39
91
92
91
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Table 2: Public Affairs Scale “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” Responses
Number of Responses
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
Community Engagement
273
97
370
4.29
4.53
Cultural Competence
273
97
370
4.09
Ethical Leadership
273
97
370
4.44
Percent “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
4.41
88
95
92
4.17
4.13
80
82
81
4.59
4.52
96
97
97
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Table 3: Students’ Evaluation of Service-Learning Course Professor “Agree” or “Strongly
Agree” Responses
Number of Responses
Evaluation of Course/Professor
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
274
97
371
4.30
3.89
4.10
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
86
74
81
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Table 4: Students’ Evaluation of Service-Learning Community Partners “Agree” or “Strongly
Agree” Responses
Number of Responses
Evaluation of Community Partners
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
273
96
369
4.25
4.39
4.31
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
77
87
82
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Table 5: Students’ Overall Evaluation of Service-Learning Course Experience “Agree” or
“Strongly Agree” Responses
Number of Responses
Evaluation of Course Experience
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
268
96
364
3.94
3.75
3.85
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
68
56
62
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
An additional yes/no question was asked of students “Would you recommend servicelearning to other students?” Of the 369 students who responded to this question, 354 of
those students or 96% stated “Yes” they would recommend service-learning to other
students.
Based on the results of the assessment data the CASL office will work to:




Will work with service-learning faculty to increase scores in the areas of Critical
Thinking (83%) and Civic Responsibility (88%); both scores reflected in the ServiceLearning Course Outcomes area.
Will work to increase scores for Cultural Competence (81%) as part of the Public
Affairs Mission by providing more service-learning opportunities with a Global
Perspective, coupled with exposure to Global Challenges course content as the
opportunity avails itself.
Work with professors to increase scores in students’ perception of their servicelearning course instructor (81%) and in overall service-learning course experience
(62%) by providing service-learning professors with additional training and
educational materials.
Work with community partners (CP’s) to further educate CP’s on service-learning in
an effort to increase students’ scores (82%) on their perception of their servicelearning experience with their community partners. Currently, the CASL office is
developing an educational handbook on service-learning for community partners.
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Table 1: Service-Learning Student Outcomes – Detailed Report
Question: Upon completion of this course
I:
Number of Responses
Average Score
Percent “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
I
C
T
Critical Thinking Outcomes
275
99
374
4.14
4.08
4.11
87
79
83
Understand the root cause of the
problem/issue identified
274
98
372
4.10
3.96
4.03
84
74
79
Can generate alternative solutions to
address the problem/issue
275
99
374
4.25
4.25
4.25
92
85
89
Identify problems/social-justice issues in the
community
275
99
374
4.08
4.04
4.10
84
79
82
Communication Skills Outcome
275
99
374
4.31
4.39
4.35
92
91
92
Demonstrate the effective use of oral,
written, and listening communication skills
275
99
374
4.31
4.39
4.35
92
91
92
Career and Teamwork Outcomes
275
99
374
4.36
4.37
4.37
92
92
92
Demonstrate strong leadership skills
275
99
374
4.25
4,24
4.25
87
86
87
Am able to work will in teams and with
others
274
99
373
4.46
4.54
4.50
94
97
96
Have the necessary skills to work in a career
that will make contributions to society
275
98
373
4.38
4.40
4.39
93
93
93
Recognize that what I do in my jobs or work
might have implications beyond the local
community.
275
98
373
4.34
4.31
4.33
93
93
93
Civic Responsibility Outcomes
275
99
374
4.24
4.23
4.24
90
86
88
Understand the importance of contributing
to my community
273
98
371
4.44
4.49
4.47
96
96
96
Am concerned about local community issues
and problems
275
99
374
4.19
4.40
4.30
86
91
89
Can identify ways in which I can improve my
neighborhoods in the future.
275
99
374
4.08
3.88
3.98
86
71
79
Believe I can have a positive impact on local
social problems.
275
99
374
4.23
4.13
4.18
91
85
88
Academic Development & Educational
Success Outcomes
274
99
373
4.36
4.41
4.39
91
92
91
Feel students learn better when courses
include service-learning experiences
275
99
374
4.17
4.23
4.20
84
88
86
Understand the connection between my
academic learning at this university and
real-life experiences.
274
98
372
4.39
4.39
4.39
93
93
93
Am committed to finishing my educational
goals (either completing a degree or taking
all of the classes that I had planned on taking
when I first enrolled at this university).
274
99
373
4.53
4.60
4.57
95
94
95
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
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Table 2: Public Affairs Scale – Detailed Report
Number of Responses
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
Community Engagement
273
97
370
4.29
4.53
Volunteering will help me succeed in my
own profession
274
97
371
4.36
I plan to do some volunteer work next year
274
97
371
Volunteering makes me feel like I am
contributing to the community
273
97
I do things for a cause bigger than myself
273
I feel obligated to contribute to my
community
Percent “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
4.41
88
95
92
4.57
4.47
89
96
93
4.23
4.56
4.40
85
94
90
370
4.46
4.64
4.55
94
98
96
97
370
4,38
4.60
4.49
92
99
96
273
97
370
4.04
4.29
4.17
81
87
84
Cultural Competence
273
97
370
4.09
4.17
4.13
80
82
81
I am able to communicate effectively with
people from different cultures
274
95
369
4.21
4.36
4.29
86
91
89
I understand the challenges faced by people
from different cultures
274
97
371
4.18
4.33
4.26
87
92
90
I have been involved in organizations that
provide services to people from different
cultural backgrounds
274
97
371
4.12
4.07
4.10
81
76
79
In the future, I will travel to other countries
to better understand culture and diversity
273
97
370
3.84
3.89
3.87
64
63
64
I can easily relate to people that are different
from me
272
97
369
4.12
4.21
4.17
83
88
86
Ethical Leadership
273
97
370
4.44
4.59
4.52
96
97
97
When I am in groups, I am thoughtful of
other people’s feelings
274
96
370
4.41
4.57
4.49
96
97
97
I am dependable and reliable
273
97
370
4.52
4.64
4.58
96
97
97
I try to make certain that my actions never
intentionally harm another person
273
97
370
4.49
4.73
4.61
96
99
98
I am aware of what kind of person I am
273
97
370
4.42
4.45
4.44
96
96
96
When working in groups, I try to assure
everyone’s voice is heard before a decision is
reached
272
97
369
4.37
4.54
4.46
94
97
96
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
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Table 3: Students’ Evaluation of Service-Learning Course Professor – Detailed Report
Number of Responses
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
Evaluation of Course/Professor
274
97
371
4.30
3.89
The professor provided an introduction for
the service-learning course project
274
97
371
4.35
The professor provided a clear explanation
of the service-learning project and clear
expectations
274
97
371
The professor provided theory/background
that helped me to understand how the
service-learning project related to this
course’s field of study
274
97
The professor provided feedback as the
service-learning project progressed
274
The professor encouraged critical reflection
throughout the semester
I am satisfied with the guidance my
professor gave me this semester
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
4.10
86
74
81
3.98
4.17
89
79
84
4.28
4.05
4.17
86
84
85
371
4.31
3.75
4.03
86
67
87
96
370
4.25
3.70
3.98
85
65
75
274
97
371
4.38
3.95
4.17
89
73
81
272
97
371
4.23
3.93
4.08
82
73
78
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Table 4: Students’ Evaluation of Service-Learning Community Partners – Detailed Report
Number of Responses
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
Evaluation of Community Partners
273
96
369
4.25
4.39
The Community Partner provided good
opportunities for service-learning projects
273
96
369
4.30
The Community Partner was accessible for
answering questions and addressing
concerns
273
96
369
The project for the Community Partner
assisted the partner and exposed me to
different work experiences pertinent to my
course
273
96
369
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
4.31
77
87
82
4.36
4.33
70
86
78
4.10
4.47
4.29
75
90
83
4.26
4.35
4.31
85
86
86
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Table 5: Students’ Overall Evaluation of Service-Learning Course Experience – Detailed
Report
Number of Responses
Average Score out of 5
with 5 being “Strongly
Agree”
I
C
T
I
C
T
Evaluation of Course Experience
268
96
364
3.94
3.75
I learned much more in my service-learning
course compared to a regular course
268
96
364
3.94
Class discussion were much more
stimulating since this was a service-learning
course
268
96
364
I would be motivated to participate in
another service-learning experience
267
96
363
*I = Integrated; C= Component; T = Total
Percent of Students
who “Agree /
Strongly Agree”
I
C
T
3.85
68
56
62
3.77
3.86
66
57
62
3.81
3.29
3.55
61
35
48
4.07
4.18
4.13
77
77
77