Dr. Amanda Hall Demonstrates How Service Learning Programs Can Benefit from Assessment

Febriyanti Lestari

Dr. Hall leads a breakout session during the annual Service Learning Initiative workshop

The University of Arkansas Service Learning Initiative recently hosted a workshop on service learning assessment (Feb 28, 2019). Dr. Amanda Hall from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) led the workshop and discussed planning assessment efforts for service learning at the university based on the success of VCU's assessment cycle.

According to Hall, "Assessment is a useful means to understand what faculty want and how to meet community partners' needs." She also said that all current service learning initiatives at VCU are a result of their faculty, student, and community partner assessments. VCU has been using assessment to move beyond academic outcomes and to focus more on civic-engagement outcomes. They utilize a three-year assessment cycle to assess professional and civic outcomes, to get stakeholders' (student, faculty and community partner) feedback, and to develop best practices.  

Hall was instrumental in the creation and the continual distribution of the Service Learning Impact Measurement (SLIM) survey, one of the primary assessment tools used by the institution. The SLIM aims to assess student-perceived impacts in three main focus areas: academic learning, civic learning, and career readiness (professional competency). The U of A has adopted this survey and will be sending it to students currently enrolled in service learning courses in April.

The U of A Service Learning Initiative is developing an action plan to develop assessment protocols for faculty and community partners this fall. If you are interested in learning more about the SLIM as well as other resources provided by Hall and VCU, please email svclrn01@uark.edu.

Dr. Amanda Hall serves as the Special Projects Manager for the VCU Division of Community Engagement, Offices of Service Learning and Community Engaged Research as well as the Coordinator for the Office of Strategic Engagement within the VCU School of Education. In these roles, she collaborates across institutions and within the community to create, implement, and facilitate community engaged programs, professional development, and curricula for both higher education and K-12 institutions focused on critical pedagogy, professionalism, and relationship-building.

The Service Learning Initiative is a joint initiative of the University of Arkansas Provost Office and the Honors College with the purpose of formalizing and expanding service learning opportunities on campus. Since 2014, when the Initiative was launched, more than 150 courses have been designated as service learning. Each semester, faculty and course instructors are encouraged to apply for service learning course designation. Click here to learn more.