Assessment of the Attributes of Educators Who Utilize Service-Learning

This study provides evidence for the differences in personality between edu­cators who do and do not utilize the pedagogy of service-learning. Two major scales, the Ohio State Teacher Efficacy Scale constructed by Tschannen-Moran and Hoy and the Self-Report Altruism Scale constructed by Rushton, Chrisjohn and Fekken were administered to a total of 128 higher education professors, 58 of whom integrate community service into the curriculum. A major finding was that service-learning educators scored significantly higher than non-service-learning educators on the OSTES. Analysis of the individual questions conveys that service-learning educators believe they play a greater role in the design, implementation and assessment of the learning experiences of students. Also, this study found that service-learning educators do not score significantly higher than non-service-learning educators on the SRAS. However, analyses of individual questions on this scale convey service-learning educators, on average, engage in more acts of charity, as well as direct services than non-service-learning educators. The results reveal a service orientation possessed by service-learning educators; professionally and personally, service-learning educators are civically engaged.