Assessing the Impact of Service-Learning: A Workbook of Strategies and Methods

This guide, in workbook form, offers an assessment model for service learning programs that focuses on the four constituencies of service learning: students, faculty, community, and the institution. The approaches described were evaluated and refined in a pilot study with 10 service learning courses. The model provides both quantitative and qualitative measures at three levels of assessment: diagnostic, formative, and summative. The first chapter explains the comprehensive case study model involving focus groups, individual interviews, surveys, direct observation, syllabus analysis, curriculum vitae review, and analysis of faculty journals. The second chapter covers strategies and methods for use with students and includes a student survey form, an interview protocol, and a student focus group protocol. A chapter on strategies and methods for use with faculty includes similar measures as well as a guide to classroom observation, teaching/learning continua, a guide to syllabus analysis, a faculty journal protocol, and a guide to curriculum vitae analysis. The following section, on strategies and methods for use in the community, includes a community observation guide, a community focus group protocol, and a community partner interview protocol. The final section focuses on the institution with an institutional interview protocol and a list of institutional documents. Sample agreement forms are included. (ERIC)