Service-Learning

ASSESSMENT Toolkit

Explore a decision tree and supplemental resources for evaluating and assessing service-learning courses and programs!

about the service-learning assessment decision tree

The decision tree for service-learning assessment is intended to provide guidance, valuable resources, and real-life examples of assessing service-learning across a range of experiences and fields. Faculty and instructors may use the tree to identify a pathway and resources needed to assess a particular experience. The tree may also serve as a launching point for further research or simply aid in identifying decisions related to assessing service-learning.

Please note: The decision tree is not intended to be comprehensive. The included examples are drawn from real-life experiences and are not intended to be prescriptive. Furthermore, the resources provided are suggestions and may not be the best method of assessment for every use case.

Contributors: The Service-Learning Assessment Toolkit and Decision Tree were conceptualized and developed by Carly Evich (Graduate Student, HDFS), Aletha Stahl (Lead Intercultural Learning Specialist, CILMAR), and Lindsey Payne (Assistant Professor of Practice, EEE).

Start the Decision Tree Here

Why do you want to assess?

Path 1

Improving a Course/Program or Demonstrating Impact

Decision 1: Choosing a level of assessment

At what level do you want to assess your course or program?

At the level of the

Decision 2: Choosing your partner-level outcomes

What partner outcomes do you want to measure?

I care about

Decision 2: Choosing your student-level outcomes

What student outcomes do you want to measure?

I care about

Decision 2: Choosing your instructor-level outcomes

What instructor outcomes do you want to measure?

I care about

Decision 3: Gathering partner data

How will you collect data on partner outcomes?

I want to collect partner data via

Decision 3: Gathering student data

How will you collect data on student outcomes?

I want to collect student data via

student tools

Example Student Surveys & Scales

Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (analysis method)

Example Student Interview Questions

Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (analysis method)

Example Student Observation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (Analysis method)

Example Student Reflection Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (Analysis method)

Example Student Presentations

  • Coming soon!
Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (analysis method)

Example Student Writing Assignments

Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (Analysis method)

Example Creative Outputs

Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (analysis method)

Example Summative Assessments

  • Coming soon!
Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (Analysis Method)

Example Peer Evaluation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to Decision 2 (student outcomes)
Skip to Decision 4 (analysis method)

Decision 3: Gathering instructor data

How will you collect data on instructor outcomes?

I want to collect instructor data via

Decision 4: Choosing your method of analysis

How will you analyze your data?

I will base my analysis or outcome measurement on

Path 2

Evaluate for a Grade

Decision 1: Choosing a level of evaluation

At what level do you want to evaluate the grade?

At the level of

Decision 2: Choosing data sources

What data sources will contribute to the grade?

I will draw from

Decision 3: Gathering partner data

What assessments will partners complete?

Partners will contribute

community partner tools

Example Tools for Partner Reports on Student Progress

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
Skip to Decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Partner Evaluation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
Skip to Decision 4 (Grading method)

Example Partner Observation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
Skip to Decision 4 (Grading method)

Example Partner Reflection Tools

Return to decision 2 (data sources)
Skip to Decision 4 (grading method)

Decision 3: Gathering student data

What assessments will students complete?

Students will contribute

Student Tools

Example Student Observation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading method)

Example Student Reflection Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Student Presentations

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading MEthod)

Example Student Writing Assignments

Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Creative Outputs

Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Summative Assessments

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Peer Evaluation Tools

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Decision 3: Gathering instructor data

What assessments will instructors complete?

Instructors will contribute

instructor tools

Example Tools for In-Class Observations

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading method)

Example Tools for On-Site Observations

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Example Tools for Participation Credit

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 2 (data sources)
skip to decision 4 (Grading Method)

Decision 4: Choosing your method of grading

What will you use to guide your grading ?

I will base the grade on

Rubrics and other tools

Example Rubrics

Return to decision 3 (partner data)
Return to decision 3 (student data)
Return to decision 3 (instructor data)

Example Models

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 3 (partner data)
Return to decision 3 (student data)
Return to decision 3 (instructor data)

Example Counts

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 3 (partner data)
Return to decision 3 (student data)
Return to decision 3 (instructor data)

Example Coding Schemes

  • Coming soon!
Return to decision 3 (partner data)
Return to decision 3 (student data)
Return to decision 3 (instructor data)

Example Standards, Competencies, or Learning Outcomes

Return to decision 3 (partner data)
Return to decision 3 (student data)
Return to decision 3 (instructor data)