P-16 Service learning: Creating citizens, healthy communities and future students

P-16 SERVICE LEARNING: CREATING CITIZENS, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND

FUTURE STUDENTS

Paul Sather, Director Julie Dierberger, P-16 Coordinator

Service Learning Academy, University of Nebraska at Omaha

2012 Nebraska Campus Compact Symposium Change in Motion

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA

• Comprehensive doctoral/research metropolitan university in University of Nebraska system

• ~16,000 Undergraduate and graduate students• Service Learning Academy began in 1999, grew

from 7 classes to over 120 in all colleges• P-16 Initiative began 5 years ago• Community Engagement Center: 2013

UNO, led by the faculty, in collaboration with staff and students, strives for excellence at all levels of teaching, learning, scholarship, research, and creative activity consistent with its metropolitan mission. Excellence is demonstrated in programs and areas of distinction, high quality undergraduate education, and strong graduate research/professional programs.

Sub-Goal B: Led by its faculty scholars/artists, UNO will increase its commitment to building and strengthening academic programs of excellence. UNO will:

• Objective 2: Target specific outreach activities as a basis for developing academic programs that stress service learning and community outreach.

Service-learning is an experiential, collaborative method of teaching using projects that promote academic learning and are tightly linked to course content while meeting the needs of the community. Reflection activities before, during, and after the experiences facilitate critical learning.

K-12 & After

School

UNONonprofit Agency

P-16 SERVICE LEARNING

SERVICE LEARNING SEMINAR• Week-long training with K-12, after school, and

higher education instructors (March, July)• Structured around K-12 Quality Service

Learning Standards (NYLC, 2008)• Bring community partners on one day to identify

needs and make curriculum connections

SERVICE LEARNING SEMINAR• P-16 teams co-develop academic service learning

experiences• Projects collaborative, focus on experiential

teaching for K-12 and higher education curriculum• Leave with:

• Project to be implemented within 18 months• Community partners• Plan for implementation• Support to implement quality projects• New relationships

SERVICE LEARNING SEMINAR GOALS• Participants increase awareness of the Omaha community, their

needs, personnel, and practice.• Participants understand the benefits of service learning and its

connections to other key frameworks such as: 40 Developmental Assets, 21st Century Skills, and standards-driven curriculum.

• Participants demonstrate understanding of the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice

• UNO, K-12, after school program faculty, and community non-profit agencies build collaborative relationships and begin service learning project planning.

• Participants are prepared to create quality service-learning experiences.

NYLC K-12 QUALITY SERVICE LEARNING STANDARDS (2008)

• Youth voice• Partnerships• Progress monitoring• Duration and Intensity

• Meaningful Service• Link to Curriculum• Reflection• Diversity

IMPACT Increased awareness of service learning related

organizations and concepts from an average of 46% pre-seminar to an average of 100% post-seminar

Increased feelings of preparedness to plan and implement a service learning projects from an average of 45% pre-seminar to an average of 99% post-seminar

IMPACT• Seminars bi-annually (March, July) trained 176 P-12

and UNO instructors in service learning pedagogy• Each semester: ~48 P-16 projects

• 2010: 534 P-12 & UNO service learners• 2011: 2741 P-12 & UNO service learners• 2012: 1705 P-12 & UNO service learners (spring)

• Completed assessments (2011-12):• 529 P-12• 728 UNO

LIFE SKILLS: This course…prepared me for work in a cul-turally diverse world.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Community participation helped me see everyday use of course material.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: I can make a difference in my community.

84%

87%

95%

Impact of P-16 Service Learning Projects College Students' Level of Agreement

OAK PARK OUTDOOR CLASSROOMUNO Landscape Plants + Ralston Honors Science Students

LEVELS OF PH, NITRATES, PHOSPHOROUS, AND POTASSIUM IN OAK PARK BASED ON LOCATION.

Location pH Nitrates Phosphorous Potassium

West Entrance (1)

7.0 Neutral Medium to Low Medium Medium

Gazebo (2) 7.5 Alkaline Low Low Medium

3rd Cement Pad From West Entrance (3)

7.5 Alkaline Medium to Low Low Medium

First Bench on East Side (4)

7.5 Alkaline Low Low Medium

East Entrance (5)

7.5 Alkaline Low Low Medium

Along Side Creak Bed (6)

7.0 Neutral Medium to Low High to Medium

High to Medium

Questions?