Revealing Shifts in Attitude among Undergraduates Participating in Academic Service Learning Programs

Abstract

Our research focuses on the design and implementation of collaborative
learning environments. We use an academic service-learning model, the
Fifth Dimension, to bring together resources from university and
community organizations in order to provide practicum experience to
university students and enriched learning opportunities to under-served
children in the local community. One of the tasks that continually
confronts us is the assessment of the impact of these interventions on
our undergraduate participants. Q methodology, as it was designed
expressly to study attitudes, perspectives, and world views, has proven
to be particularly appropriate here. This paper describes our
application of Q methodology in understanding the changes between pre-
and post-term attitudes about teaching and learning in undergraduate
students. It is our contention that practicum experience provides the
opportunity for a holistic type of undergraduate development not
possible in traditional classroom settings. Our results show that while
marked shifts in attitude did occur during the class, the mindsets that
the undergraduates brought with them into the program influenced the
nature of those changes.