Old Dominion University
Michele Kekeh, Lecturer

There are many approaches to collaboration that sustain service-learning for practicum projects. In many of these models, students are enrolled in practicum courses and conduct their service-learning opportunities at the health departments and other community organizations.

In these contexts, preceptors only provide an evaluation of the student's performance at the end of the internship for grading. These models lack a channel of communication between preceptor and faculty to access the impact of the student's project on the organization and the overall community.

This proposal illustrates the innovative tool that helps collect, analyze, and evaluate the overall impacts of service-learning projects. This tool is also a communication instrument that helps shape service-learning projects. It was developed by the School of Community and Environmental Health in collaboration with the Department of Engineering and Computer Sciences, along with leaders from the Chesapeake Health Department to manage and evaluate the impacts of service-learning projects.

This assessment is important because it allows a means to obtain the necessary feedback to improve the quality of service-learning practice, enhance student learning, and make a more significant impact on the community. Furthermore, the evaluation findings help provide insight into the service-learning projects, including their ability to promote a culture of health and encourage students to engage in community projects.

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