Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
  • About Backback to Main menu
    • About
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City
    • Facts and Figures
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    • Contact Us
  • Academics Backback to Main menu
    • Academics
    • Majors & Programs
    • Class Search
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Colleges
    • Academic Affairs
    • Online Learning
    • International
    • Library
  • Admissions Backback to Main menu
    • Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Tuition and Fees
    • Financial Aid
    • Registrar
    • Visit UNO
    • Request Info
    • Apply
  • Student Life Backback to Main menu
    • Student Life
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    • Academic & Career Development Center
    • Accessibility
    • Housing & Residence Life
    • Inclusion
    • Service
    • Student Conduct & Community Standards
    • Student Involvement
    • Student Safety
    • Wellness
  • Engagement Backback to Main menu
    • Engagement
    • Office of Engagement
    • Campus Resources for Community
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Volunteer and Civic Engagement Programs
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Faculty Resources
    • Student Resources
    • Voter Engagement
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
  • Research Backback to Main menu
    • Research
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
  • Athletics Backback to Main menu
    • Athletics
    • Baxter Arena
    • Omaha Mavericks Website
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center

Online/Remote Service Learning

  1. UNO
  2. Service Learning Academy
  3. Online/Remote Service Learning

  • Service Learning Academy Priority Areas
  • Maverick Philanthropy Initiative
  • Students and Faculty
  • Faculty Fellows
  • SLA Newsletters
  • Contact Us

Faculty members at UNO have the option to teach their service learning courses in person, online, remote, or in a hybrid format. Below are the online, remote, and hybrid definitions established by UNO Digital Learning.

  • Online: asynchronous instructor-student interactions using digital technology, with students able to interact with each other and the instructor at flexible hours (850 sections)
  • Remote: instructors and students meeting synchronously using digital technology (eg: Zoom) at the scheduled times according to the Registrar’s calendar (820 sections)
  • Hybrid instruction: a mix of in-person instruction and either remote or online instruction, with reduced contact time on campus (860 sections)

remote.png

Service learning in online/remote environments has a variety of definitions, as indicated below:

  • E-service-learning (electronic service learning): “a service learning course wherein the instruction and/or service occurs online” (Waldner, McGorry, & Widener, 2012, p. 123)
  • Service-learning: “an integrative pedagogy that engages learners through technology in civic inquiry, service, reflection, and action” (Daily-Hebert, Donnelli-Sallee, & DiPadova-Stocks, 2008, p. 1)

No matter the language, it is important to know that UNO faculty members, partners, and students learn and serve together in online environments as well as in-person spaces. The literature review below reveals a variety of reasons to use service learning in online/remote spaces:

  • Bridges the geographic barrier (Waldner, McGorry, & Widener, 2012)
  • Engaging way to animate online course delivery (Gayton & McEwen, 2007; Hill, Song, & West, 2009; Muirhead, 2004; Swan, 2002; Waldner, McGorry, & Widener, 2012)
  • Community partner access can increase and expand outside of local community (Malvey et al, 2006; Waldner, McGorry, & Widener, 2012)
  • Links students to technology they need to be successful in the workforce (McWhorter, R. R., Delello, J. A., & Roberts, P. B., 2016)
  • High impact practice (Kuh, 2008)

Serving in online/remote environments

In-person service learning courses give students the opportunity to interact directly with individuals. When there are no distance requirements, faculty members can create experiences with community partners that outline when students visit an organization. In remote/online service learning courses, the service experience is typically indirect/capacity building, research, advocacy, or connected to the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative at UNO.

  • Indirect/capacity building: This is a type of service that does not require direct contact with individuals. Indirect and capacity building service often includes building structures or resources that support an organization or initiative behind-the-scenes. Examples: Building a website, writing a grant, conducting an evaluation, writing a business plan
  • Research: Students can conduct research as a part of an online/remote service learning course. Examples: Collecting a literature review for a grant application or analyzing data for an organization/business
  • Advocacy: Students persuade actions by writing letters, speaking to groups, or performing. Examples: Online performance, letter-writing campaign
  • Maverick Philanthropic Initiative: Students learn the basics of decision-making choices of giving their time, talents, or treasure while learning course content and contributing to a community organization. Examples: Developing persuasive speeches and donating to the chosen organization

Tips to developing your online/remote service learning course

The Service Learning Academy is eager to support the development of your online/remote service learning course. We are happy to meet with you at any stage of course development—the earlier, the better! Below are a few considerations for your online/remote service learning course:

Identify learning outcomes: be sure to closely link course learning goals to the community-identified service. Faculty members often start by amending an individual assignment to include a community-based experience (in online environments, those are indirect, research, advocacy, or philanthropy)

Connect to meaningful service: community partners identify the opportunities for service in service learning courses. It is important to start by listening to partners about opportunities for asset-sharing and collaboration. The Service Learning Academy can help you make partner connections.

Include training for all stakeholders: set expectations for everyone involved by providing some context building and preparation for the project to be completed.

  • Ensure everyone has access to the technology being used
  • Make sure the project is relevant to the course learning goals and student interest


Include reflections before, during, and after the experiences

  • Be sure the faculty member (and, if possible, community partner) is actively engaged in discussion
  • Use discussion boards, chat rooms, blogs, web-based journaling, presentations in creative ways
  • Ensure learning is explicitly linked to experience by creating thoughtful prompts
  • Include student personal growth/self-reflection

Assess student learning

  • Use a rubric to assess student learning (reminder, the grade is for learning, not service)
  • Include community partner input and feedback as much as possible

Empower students to communicate their successes: students can document their experiences and skills developed on resumes. Documenting their ability to learn and serve in an online environment is an essential skill!

Don’t be afraid to start small: the Service Learning Academy team is excited to support your online/remote service learning course!

Service Learning Academy

  • Service Learning Academy Priority Areas
  • Maverick Philanthropy Initiative
  • Students and Faculty
  • Faculty Fellows
  • SLA Newsletters
  • Contact Us

Additional Resources

  • Service Learning Academy Resource Page: COVID-19 Response
  • Next Steps
  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)
  • Just For You
  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List
  • Popular Services and Resources
  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • Bookstore
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence
  • Affiliates
  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • © 2023  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • Report an Incident or Concern

Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.

scroll to top of page