UWS Learning and Teaching Action Plan Projects
Assessing student learning and reflection in the
“Learning through Community Service” unit
A UWS Learning and Teaching
Action Plan (LTAP) 2006-2008 Project
Project leaders: Dr Diane Whitton, School of Education
Project report: Dr Diane Whitton
LTAP project no: P6125
P6125 Final Report Page 1 of 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
P6125 Final Report Page 2 of 4
Project aims
To examine methods to use to develop consistent assessment of 101117 Learning Through
Community Service students and then develop a framework for teaching students about reflection and for the academics, the process of assessing reflective journals.
Actual outcomes achieved
The web based information has been developed for students and academic staff. In addition the lectures are being edited for student use. A collection of rubrics for evaluation have also been developed.
Scalability of the project
At present the project has been completed for the target audience – students in 101117
Learning Through Community Service . It will be shared in the college at meetings with staff to let them know of its availability. As it is in a web format if and when additional information is obtained it may be added to be used by students and staff.
Sustainability of project
101117 Learning through Community Service is a core unit in the Bachelor of Early
Childhood Studies and so has an intake each year and is also part of the Education Sub
Major in the Bachelor of Arts and is a recommended pathway for students who wish to undertake primary education at UWS.
Evaluation of the project
The resource has been completed and will be used by students in 2007. The lecture and
PowerPoint presentation were given at the beginning of 2H this semester and evaluation of the unit has not been undertaken yet as the semester is still ongoing. From the students’ reflections submitted there is an improvement in the level of work being undertaken. The final component of the project
– the editing of the lectures on reflection are being undertaken at the moment and will be available to staff and students for the commencement of 2008.
The complete package of PowerPoint, web information and the lectures will then need to be uploaded onto the WebCE site for the unit.
Project implementation issues
At present the material will not be uploaded to the web and so for the first semester in 2008 students will be given a CD of the lecture and Web information. I need to learn how to add the link and information to the WebCE site which is under development at present to be ready for 2008. So in case it is not ready the CD will be available for each student and academic working in the unit. This project has been successful however has had experience some difficulties with the transfer of funds from the grant to the various suppliers of skills and materials. This has made it difficult to follow the balance in the budget.
Dissemination of project outcomes
In recent weeks I have attended an international conference on service learning and see the need to develop some presentations and papers on the work we are undertaking in service learning at UWS. Other academics from a range of universities were interested in what we were doing and a couple are considering coming to UWS for part of the sabbatical to examine more closely what we are doing. I hope to follow up these connections and commence the process of writing about the work we are doing in service learning which would include the development of the work on reflection.
P6125 Final Report Page 3 of 4
Further comments
This project has been a valuable opportunity to work on one area that was needed within
101117 Learning Through Community Service. A short workshop for recipients on form completion to obtain goods and services would be good so the processes can be undertaken smoothly.
P6125 Final Report Page 4 of 4
