Students in Dr. Eleni Pinnow's Applied Behavior Analysis course, on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior, are using real-life experiences to tie into the classroom through hands-on learning in the city of Superior.

This class, which can be taken as an elective, also fulfills some requirements for a psychology major, collaborates with the Center for Academic for Service-Learning.

Academic Service-Learning is an innovative teaching strategy that provides students with opportunities to deepen their knowledge and learn new skills by matching academic goals to the needs of community organizations or small businesses. Students apply concepts and skills they learn in the classroom and give that knowledge back to the community.

While most students see a degree as a piece of paper to get them a job, Pinnow wants them to see that their degree has more worth.

"There are values in everyday life," said Pinnow.

The UW-Superior students have been meeting with ninth- through 12th-graders at Superior High School who need additional help on schoolwork because of poor study habits or time management skills.

This one-on-one time creates role models for the high school students, showing them that it is worthwhile to get good grades and to graduate.  In turn, many of the high school students are pushed to go to college, realizing that they can improve their lives with some extra work.

At the Animal Rescue Federation, the UW-Superior students spend time with the dogs, working on their behavior by taking them on walks and giving them much-needed attention.  In turn, the dogs learn preferable behaviors, which increase their adoption rate and keeps euthanasia rates low.

The students' work with ARF helps at multiple levels for both the canines and the students, Pinnow said.

Pinnow is grateful she can interact with the community through UW-Superior, with the good that her students are doing.

"UW-Superior's views are an obligation as a university to better the community and by being committed to a betterment of Superior and the value in that," said Pinnow.

With the collaboration with AS-L, the class shows students that there is not a problem that they cannot solve.  "As long as the students have an idea, they can find ways to make that idea a possibility," said Pinnow.