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 UNO Nonprofit 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, 21 st 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 ( ): 529 P UNO

OAK PARK OUTDOOR CLASSROOM UNO Landscape Plants + Ralston Honors Science Students

LEVELS OF PH, NITRATES, PHOSPHOROUS, AND POTASSIUM IN OAK PARK BASED ON LOCATION. LocationpHNitrates Phosphorous Potassium West Entrance (1) 7.0 NeutralMedium to LowMedium Gazebo (2)7.5 AlkalineLow Medium 3 rd Cement Pad From West Entrance (3) 7.5 AlkalineMedium to LowLowMedium First Bench on East Side (4) 7.5 AlkalineLow Medium East Entrance (5) 7.5 AlkalineLow Medium Along Side Creak Bed (6) 7.0 NeutralMedium to LowHigh to Medium

Questions?