Partners at Learning

Introduction

"The social significance of this work is grand for me; I believe an experience like this is rare. Not many times do we get to share our talents to better children's lives." ~UCSD Undergraduate

 

Regardless of your career and educational goals, you will benefit from the real world skills and the unique perspective gained from taking a Partners At Learning (PAL) class. Working with children and their families, interacting with education professionals, and tackling authentic challenges will enhance your communication and social skills. Most importantly, you will be contributing to the community and making a difference.

The PAL program, through UC San Diego's Education Studies provides opportunities for UCSD students to be involved with underrepresented and underserved preK-12 students and schools. Every year students in UCSD's Public Service courses work with hundreds of students on an individual basis and provide mentoring / tutoring at more than twenty area schools, contributing over 20,000 volunteer hours. UC San Diego's PAL students play an integral part in our partner schools as mentors and/or tutors and serve as role models for the preK-12 school children they serve. The public service courses provide students with an introduction to theoretical and practical issues in preK-12 education by incorporating both academic work and a fieldwork component into the course structure.

PAL courses are open to students from all majors and colleges. Many students take PAL classes in order to work with children and youth, to get real world experience, or to do community service. PAL classes also fulfill GE and significant writing requirements for some colleges, as well as some of the requirements for a minor in EDS. PAL mentors and tutors work in schools and strive to enhance preK-12 students' achievement and motivation. PAL partner schools are typically in lower income neighborhoods.

Learn more about the PAL program, view our PAL video:

Mission of the PAL Program

"I have learned that community service can simply involve being a role model and making a friendship"~UCSD Undergraduate

The PAL program offers UC San Diego undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to reach out to the next generation of university scholars and lead them toward higher education. The program provides academic opportunities which challenge and support preschool, elementary and secondary students to be successful in school. PAL courses give UCSD students meaningful opportunities to learn about and experience issues of equity and education in San Diego's preK-12 schools.

UC San Diego's PAL tutors and mentors contribute to San Diego's schools by providing one-on-one or small group interaction with preK-12 students. UC San Diego PAL students spend at least forty hours per quarter at their assigned school site. Serving in underrepresented and underserved schools, UCSD students support academic excellence and encourage students to consider college in their futures. Responding to social and emotional needs of the students, UC San Diego students are providing a consistent presence in young students' lives.

Benefits of being in a Public Service course:

  • Make a difference in the lives of underserved youth
  • Gain valuable real-world experience
  • Learn about the educational system
  • Explore teaching as a career


UCSD students may count some of the courses towards an EDS Minor or EDS Credential Prerequisite Program. Some of the courses also count as a non-contiguous, upper-division units for all six colleges. In addition, the courses also meet specific requirements for some of the colleges:

Thurgood Marshal College ( TMC)

Eleanor Roosevelt College (ERC)

Sixth College

 

Student Work

 

PAL students are actively engaged in our courses and have worked on some terrific projects.

The Voicing Ground

UC San Diego Artsbridge

Check out books created by PAL students:

Slideshow

Movie

Quicktime is required to view our PAL projects. Download Quicktime here.

Art Lessons

Math Lessons

PAL Course Descriptions

"This class is probably the best class you will ever take at UCSD. The kids are great and they will love and admire you on a daily basis." ~ UCSD Undergraduate

Course Descriptions: Preschool & Elementary


EDS 130. Introduction to Academic Mentoring of Elementary School Students
This course focuses on the role of undergraduate mentors in raising academic expectations for students and families traditionally underrepresented at the university. The relationship between the school and community, the social and political organization of elementary schools, and the academic achievement of elementary children are examined. (Corequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)
Placement Form

EDS 131. Assisting in Preschool
This course examines effective practices for early education and development for pre-school children ages 2-5 years old. Field experience and seminar focus on cognitive and social development and the undergraduate/preschool student relationship, teaching and learning processes in early education, and community service. (Corequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)

EDS 134. Introduction to Literacy and Numeracy Tutoring
This course examines effective practices for language arts and mathematics learning for elementary school children. The field experience and seminar focus on the tutor / student relationship, teaching and learning processes for literacy and numeracy, and community service. (Corequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)

EDS 137. Introduction to Discipline-Specific Teaching and Learning
This course examines effective practices for teaching and learning in specific academic content areas in PreK-12 school or community settings. The field experience and seminar focus on relationship-building between mentors and learners, discipline-relevant teaching and learning processes, and community service.
Placement Form

EDS 139. Practicum in Learning
Students are placed in local schools and work with students in classrooms and the community. Students work on educational activities with K-12 students a minimum of four hours per week.


Course Descriptions: Secondary


EDS 136. Introduction to Academic Tutoring of Secondary School Students
This course focuses on the role of undergraduate tutors in building academic resiliency in secondary students traditionally underrepresented at the university. The relationship between the school and community, the social and political organization of secondary schools, the philosophical, sociological, and political issues which relate to the U.S. secondary educational system, and the academic achievement of secondary children are examined. (Corequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)orequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)
Placement Form

EDS 137. Teaching and Learning Through Technology
This course examines on the use of technology as a learning tool in public education and the role of university undergraduate tutors and mentors working with K-12 students in collaborative projects. We will explore the uses of technology as a communication, collaboration, and social change tool through authentic tasks and projects produced by K-12 students. The field experiences and seminar will focus on hardware and software applications as interactive tools for learning in both the school community and online learning communities.
Placement Form

EDS 138. Introduction to Academic Tutoring at Charter Schools
This course focuses on effects of the Charter School movement on public education in the U.S., the role of the research universities in K-12 education, the social and political organization of the schools, the philosophical, sociological, and political issues which relate to the U.S. secondary educational system, and the academic achievement of secondary children. Students investigate the role of undergraduate tutors in building academic resiliency in secondary students traditionally underrepresented at the university. (Corequisite: EDS 139 Practicum in Learning)
Placement Form

EDS 139. Practicum in Learning
Students are placed in local schools and work with students in classrooms and the community. Students work on educational activities with K-12 students a minimum of four hours per week.

Note: All students must come to the Education Studies office and complete some paperwork prior to enrolling so we may preauthorize your enrollment. Also, before tutoring at any school, a current TB test (1 yr or earlier prior to the start of your course) must be on file. If you need a TB test, contact Student Health for more details.


View EDS 130 Map of Schools in a larger map
View UCSD EDS 136/139 School Tutoring Sites in a larger map

Testimonials

In collaboration with families, community, and business partners, we will prepare each student to be a confident, contributing, highly productive, and responsible citizen in a global society. By partnering with UCSD's program in education, we are able to provide our students with young role models and mentors who can affirm the importance of higher education. In their interaction with students, tutors also learn and come to understand the diverse challenges that are inherent in public education and the strong efforts that are underway to support student performance. Really, it is a "Win-Win" situation for both the students and the tutors in this symbiotic relationship.

Jonathan Ton,
Principal, Montgomery Middle School

It's been a great source of motivation for my young students to see college students continuing in their learning process.

Elisabeth Frausto,
Teacher, Florence Elementary

I love to have UCSD tutors in my classroom. The tutors satisfy many different and important roles. The UCSD mentors extend my "reach" as an instructor. Collectively we are able to interact with many more students than I could ever hope to on my own. The tutors, in my experience, are proven commodities. They are young men and women who have made the social and academic commitment to serve. My students always look forward to those days of the week when the tutors are present.

Daniel Peña,
Teacher, Garfield High School

PAL students allow me to differentiate my instruction in order to fit the needs of all my students. The benefits are countless due to beautifying the campus, helping my students succeed, and learning about new strategies in teaching. PAL students help in all aspects of the classroom. They help meet my students' needs and work with me in planning and implementing lessons.PAL allows me to maintain my connection to UCSD because I constantly see new bright young students and aspiring teachers who want to make a difference in my students' lives. Without PAL the lessons, differentiating instruction, and meeting the needs of my students would not be the same. PAL allows me to give a higher level of instruction that is more personal to all my students.

Tina Rasori,
Teacher, Jackson Elementary

Contact Us

 

For general inquiries:

Pre-K- Alison Wishard Guerra

Elementary- Caren Holtzman

Secondary- Luz Chung

PAL Enrollment- Melissa Wolf

Phone: (858) 822-2177

 

Directions

3rd Floor - Pepper Canyon Hall on the campus map.

Driving Directions

Note: This is an interactive Google Map. Feel free to pan and zoom around. You can also click on points of interest like EDS (located in Pepper Canyon Hall) and Gilman Parking Structure to get driving directions.

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