International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Volume 3, Number 1, January 2009

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Research Article

Excerpt

Service Learning in a Non-majors Biology Course Promotes Changes in Students’ Attitudes and Values About the Environment

I was interested in whether the inclusion of a service-learning experience would affect students’ attitudes and values about the environment. To investigate this question, I incorporated a service-learning project into the laboratory portion of one of the two sections of my non-majors biology course, and kept the lecture portions of the course identical. Several methods were used to assess the impact of the service-learning experience: the New Ecological Paradigm survey was used to measure changes in students’ attitudes and values about the environment at the beginning and end of the semester, and reflective writing assignments were used throughout the semester qualitatively assess changes. Students’ evaluations of the course and the instructor were also compared. As predicted, participation in a service-learning project was associated with changes in students’ attitudes and values about the environment. Students in the service-learning lab were also more likely to positively rate the course and the instructor.

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Bio

Alissa Packer
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, USA
packer@susqu.edu

After receiving my Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from Indiana University, I joined the faculty at Susquehanna University as an Assistant Professor of Biology. I regularly teach introductory ecology and evolutionary biology courses for both majors and non-majors, as well as advanced courses in general ecology and plant physiology. My research focuses on plant defenses against herbivory. Specifically I am interested in how ecological factors affect the allocation of resources to multiple defense mechanisms. In addition to my work in the biology department, I am involved in efforts to support teaching on campus. I serve as the Chair of the Committee on Teaching and Learning and the Director of the University’s Common Reading Program.
Website: http://www.susqu.edu/facstaff/p/packer/default.htm

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