Reflection-based assessment of service learning in undergraduate engineering

Virtually all engineering education organizations from around the world agree on the critical awareness of the societal context of engineering for graduating engineers. Service learning is one viable way that can bring about students’ awareness of their role in society. However, the body of literature addressing service learning as a pedagogy and strategic ways of implementing it in the already-full engineering curricula, as well as its assessment is relatively small. This paper describes a concise engineering service-learning component in a typical heat transfer course for mechanical engineering students. The service-learning component was used to probe the students’ ability to a) articulate the societal context of engineering, b) explain the importance of pro-active community service, and demonstrate an inclination to continue such service in the future, c) exhibit an appreciation of communication with non-engineers and finally, d) challenge some of the students’ stereotypes regarding other members of the community. Reflections were conducted by the students when answering a set of carefully-phrased questions addressing the above four issues. The responses of all students were analyzed as explained in this paper. The recorded benefits of service learning are described and can be expected from similar service-learning components in other engineering courses.