P-16 Initiative

What are P-16 Initiative Courses?

P-16 service learning courses are different from traditional service learning courses. They involve a UNO course with its faculty and students, one or more community partners (nonprofit organization, business, or governmental agency), and a Preschool-12th grade (P-12) course.

These collaborations meet both P-12 and UNO course learning goals while completing a community-identified need through a shared project. These courses often include interdisciplinary collaborations, where partners from different disciplines combine to meet the project goals.

P-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice

The National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has established a set of eight standards as a guide to quality service learning. While they are targeted to the K-12 education audience, they are adaptable to higher education environments and the understanding of community partners.

1. Meaningful service
2. Link to curriculum
3. Reflection
4. Diversity
5. Youth Voice
6. Partnerships
7. Progress monitoring
8. Duration and intensity

The Stages of Service Learning (IPARDE)

• Investigation: Use critical thinking to identify and analyze community needs, assets, student interests, skills, and talents.
• Preparation: Get ready to take action through service by gaining knowledge and skills aligned with academic objectives. Collaborate with community partners to create a service plan addressing identified community needs (s).
• Action: Engage in meaningful and creative service that enhances learning and provides guided practice in social responsibility.
• Reflection: Communicate feelings, experiences, and learnings before, during, and after the action phase.
• Demonstration: Showcase the service-learning experience, demonstrating insights and outcomes to the community.
• Evaluation: Assess student learning and the service-learning experience to identify successes and areas for improvement.

Learn more on the Generation On website.

_{Generation On (2012). Stages of service-learning. Retrieved from https://www.generationon.org/page/iparde-resources}

Benefits

Service Learning is a teaching method that connects learning outcomes to identified community needs and opportunities. As a metropolitan institution, UNO values community partnerships that bring together P-12 and higher education, community organizations, government agencies, and businesses to provide meaningful opportunities to serve and learn in the community.

By developing academic service learning experiences with all three entities, the opportunity to deepen academic learning, provide real-life experiences, and build relationships allows learning to continue throughout a lifetime.

Student Benefits

• Become active in addressing real community issues through coursework
• Develop civic engagement and citizenship skills necessary for career and individual development
• “See” textbook learning come to life
• Break down the four walls of the classroom
• Develop relationships with K-12 and higher education students and teachers in community agencies

Instructor Benefits

• Provide meaningful opportunities for critical thought and upper-level learning
• Engage students actively in their learning
• Students achieve at higher levels

Community Benefits

• Address real agency needs through classroom learning
• Act as co-teacher in the classroom
• Impact youth as a valuable asset in the community
• Interact with youth and families

Resources

Service learning implementation can begin with an idea, need, course learning outcome, or conversation. However it starts, the Service Learning Academy can assist in developing a quality curriculum that implements this teaching style. Support is available in many ways, using the K-12 Quality Service Learning Standards and other supportive materials.

Means of Support

• Training for P-12 educators, UNO faculty members, and community partners on quality service learning development during Service Learning Seminars
• Graduate assistant support for service learning implementation and planning
• Funding for service learning curriculum, including project materials, transportation, and food
• Customizable training and support for schools, departments, after-school programs, groups, etc., that are interested in developing service learning programs

Please go to our Information for Educators page for more resource information.