Making Research Relevant: A Service Learning Approach to Program Evaluation

As the workplace becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, students must develop an understanding of problem-based inquiry and the ability to search for solution-directed answers. This interactive session will allow the audience to engage both students and faculty in a facilitated discussion about the benefits and challenges of a unique approach to student learning that integrates teaching, scholarship, and service. This panel discussion will provide an overview of a semester-long student research project that created a survey instrument designed to evaluate multiple aspects of an academic program. The panel consists of two students and three faculty members who participated in the project. Topics to be addressed include student roles in developing the research design, selecting appropriate methodology, and analyzing results, and issues related to student and professional presentation, transferability of skills to professional settings, and the assessment of student learning outcomes. Opportunities for dialog between the audience and panel members will be actively encouraged via designed question prompts.