Title: Assessing students' learning in an information systems service-learning course through two lenses: the students' and the clients'

Authors: Sara Moussawi; Joseph Mertz; Larry Heimann; Julia Poepping; Laura Pottmeyer; Michael Melville; Xiaoying Tu; Jeria Quesenberry; Raja Sooriamurthi; Divakaran Liginlal; Martin Barrett; Christopher Kowalsky; Gabriela Gongora-Svartzman; Oscar Veliz

Addresses: Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA ' Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA ' Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA ' Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA ' Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Seattle, WA

Abstract: In Information systems (IS), service-learning is essential in helping students gain real-world experience and serve the community. IS students need a specific set of skills upon graduation and helping them develop such skills is crucial to their future success. We collected and analysed data from students and clients of an undergraduate consulting course involving 27 team-based community outreach projects. Our results provide evidence of improved self-efficacy in relation to essential skills for IS students including problem scoping, solution evaluation, social context sensitivity, and technical confidence and flexibility. Additionally, the data from the community partners' surveys provide strong evidence to support student-teams' enhanced domain-specific skills, i.e., project planning, solution fit, implementation, rigour, process, testing, and documentation. This research contributes to the IS service-learning literature by quantitatively exploring a relatively novel set of skills that are essential for IS graduates to help them add value in today's workplace.

Keywords: service-learning; learning outcomes; problem scoping; technical flexibility; social context sensitivity; critical thinking; professional communication; teamwork skills; domain specific skills; experiential learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2026.154747

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2026 Vol.9 No.3, pp.216 - 243

Received: 15 Jun 2023
Accepted: 28 Dec 2023
Published online: 13 Jul 2026 *

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