Abstract
The impacts of three service learning courses in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University on student outcomes were evaluated using pre and post surveys. The three courses engaged a total of 69 unique students in projects intended to benefit the community, but according to survey responses there were differences in courses in terms of course enrollment motivations and desire to help the community after graduation. It was found that generally over the course of the semester, students developed a sense of connectedness and responsibility; a sense of the importance of helping others; and an interest in being personally involved in helping the community in the future. In courses where baseline measures were high, significant changes were not observed over the course of the semester. The survey questions used here were adapted from those typically used to measure the outcomes of courses focused on community development; this study illustrates that these survey questions can also work well for natural resource courses. Overall, the study confirms that service learning in natural resource courses can help produce civic-minded graduates, a goal of many universities and colleges.
 7. Prokopy_NACTA Journal.pdf | [ ] | 458 kB |
