Partners at Learning

Welcome to Partners at Learning!


"This is what college is really about- the application of an education." ~UCSD Undergraduate


The PAL Program

 


The PAL program, through UC San Diego's Education Studies, provides opportunities for UCSD students to work with underserved preK-12 students and schools.

Every year students in UCSD's Public Service courses work with hundreds of students on an individual basis to provide mentoring and tutoring at more than twenty area schools, contributing over 20,000 volunteer hours.

Public service courses provide students with an introduction to theoretical and practical issues in preK-12 education by incorporating both academic work and fieldwork components into the course structure.


The PAL Program

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

 



PAL General Course Info


"Rarely do students get the opportunity to take classes that reach beyond the UCSD campus. I think it was really important that we worked at a school outside of the La Jolla area and got to consider and understand the cultural elements of the neighborhood surrounding the school."


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



Since PAL courses place UCSD students in the community, extra information is required.

Partners at Learning Spring 2012 Placement Request Form (EDS 130/139, 131/139, 137/139, 138/139, and cont. 139)

EDS 130 & 137 Criminal Background Check Mandatory form


Please contact Melissa Wolf at mawolf@ucsd.edu for any questions pertaining to the courses.



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)

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. Artsbridge
This course focuses on the role of the arts (visual and performing) in education. UCSD students collaborate with techers in preK-12 classrooms to support arts instruction and integrate the arts in the core curriculum.

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 39. Practicum in Science and Math Teaching/Learning (2)
Undergraduate students are placed in local schools and work with children in classrooms and the community. Students work on educational activities with K-12 students a minimum of 20 hours/quarter. Prerequisites: department stamp; concurrent enrollment in either Math 87: Teaching Math.: The Challenge, or Chem. 87: Teaching Science: The Challenge.

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)

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)

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.

Our Community


PAL is partnered with over 40 schools to be a part of San Diego's diverse communities.
















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.



Examples of PAL community involvement:
Voicing Ground

Partners at Learning at UCSD teamed with adults and youth of our San Diego community to create family stories. These teams consisted of San Diego City College Arts Students, Partners at Learning Students, Sixth College Students from UCSD, and 4th grade students from Jackson Elementary in San Diego Unified School District. Together they created an art installation at Jackson Elelentary in the form of text, murals, and gardens to display their work.

Follow our video to learn more:

 

Contact Us


For general inquiries:

Pre-K: Alison Wishard Guerra

Elementary: Caren Holtzman

Secondary: Luz Chung

Artsbridge: Caren Holtzman

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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