Designed primarily for psychology majors, students apply their knowledge of human behavior to make a plan to help encourage better study habits, curb behavior and modify any other unconstructive behavior.

From learning to tutoring

The UW-Superior students divide their time between their classroom and their chosen site. Each week, assistant psychology professor Eleni Pinnow assigned UW-Superior students to write in an online reflection journal. Through reflection, students consider and identify target behaviors in the middle school students they work with, like amount of time spent studying, and work to change it.

"I have been extremely impressed by the depth and amount of reflection on the material shown by my students," says Pinnow.

Pinnow also graded students on their participation in four reflection days throughout the semester. During reflection days, students had the opportunity to look back on what they'd accomplished.

"My goal is basically for students to understand the basic principles of conditioning and learning and for them to understand how to apply those principles to modify behavior," said Pinnow.

Making a real change

Student Cristin Cline says she was proud of the change she saw in the SMS student she tutored.  Cline spent a few hours, two days a week teaching better study skills to a young girl. "We spent a lot of time on math because that was her hardest subject," says Cline. "I could tell she was improving and that really made me feel good."

Pinnow believes this type of learning is inspiring. "When students see that they can modify behavior through things like reinforcement, they see their education being put to use."

Student Amber Bieneck enjoyed her time spent at the after school program. "I plan on going back once finals are over, because I do enjoy my time there, and the Latchkey teachers have agreed that would be okay."

Real-life accomplishments

One of the main goals of service-learning is connecting knowledge with everyday life. Pinnow found this connection was easy to make for students in "Applied Behavior Analysis." "Honestly, this is the type of learning and application that can't happen in a traditional classroom," she said.

"Applied Behavior Analysis" is part of the Academic Service-Learning program at UW-Superior. Academic Service-Learning enables students to apply concepts and skills they learn in the classroom and give that knowledge back to the community.