Service-Learning Australia

Monitoring and evaluation are central to the sustainability of service-learning.  Monitoring motivates students and community partners by highlighting progress towards achieving service goals and learning goals, and helps identify any changes that should be made.  It helps to clarify priorities and enhance accountability.  It is important not only to monitor progress but also process - conceptualizing, planning, implementing and operating the service-learning project. This can lead to improvements that effect the project’s outcomes.  To be effective, monitoring should be an integral part of the entire process of service-learning.  You don’t need to conduct a final, scientific evaluation – a weekly check on progress against baselines is very effective.