A Study on the Relationship between College Students' Social Skills and Metacognition through Service-learning Participation

Purpose This study aims to investigate the correlation of social skills and metacognition among university students participating in service-learning programs. Also by evaluating the satisfaction of college students participating in service learning, this research seeks to understand the impact of this program on learning experiences. Research design, data and methodology: The research period spans two semesters, each comprising 15 weeks, from March 2, 2023, to December 20, 2023. Detailed procedures, including planning, preparation, data collection, analysis, and organization, cover activities conducted over the course of 30 weeks. These activities encompass various stages, from initial classroom planning with designated English storybooks to reflection and feedback sessions aimed at continuous development. Data collection methods include surveys, interviews, and observations, allowing for a comprehensive examination of social skills and metacognition among participating students. Results: The results show significant correlations between social skills and metacognition, such as the correlation between knowledge and statistics (r = 0.759, p < .01), the moderate correlation between cooperation and knowledge (r = 0.532, p < .01), the moderate correlation between statistics and cooperation (r = 0.539, p < .01), and the correlation between self-regulation and assertion (r = 0.278, p < .001). The average score of the satisfaction of college students participating in service learning was 4.8 out of 5. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant role of service-learning in boosting social skills and metacognition among university students. This study enhances the academic understanding of the relationships between social skills, metacognition, and service-learning programs, contributing to the expansion of both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field.