Expanding Learning Opportunities: UC San Diego Extended Studies and the San Diego County Office of Education Transform Education

Students, teachers, and schools have faced tremendous challenges in recent years, from navigating the disruptions of the pandemic to addressing longstanding educational inequities. 

Despite these hurdles, educators remain dedicated to their mission and continue to seek meaningful ways to empower students with transformative learning opportunities that inspire curiosity, build resilience, and prepare students for the future. 

To support these efforts, the Department of Education and Community Outreach (ECO) at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies has partnered with the San Diego County Office of Education to expand opportunities for meaningful, transformative learning outside the traditional classroom.

The collaboration is grounded in the principles of ‘expanded learning.' This concept refers to any education beyond the conventional classroom, typically offering unique and experiential learning opportunities outside of regular instructional hours.

“It's about creating dynamic learning environments where students can explore their interests and engage in meaningful experiences—not just more homework or worksheets," explained Lisa Johnson Davis, Ph.D., coordinator for Expanded Learning at San Diego County Office of Education.

This collaboration hopes to serve as a blueprint for how institutions can work together to address systemic challenges in education. The ultimate goal is to create enriching experiences for students that foster an emotional connection to learning.

"This partnership is about creating a tapestry of non-conventional, immersive opportunities for schools and students," explained Morgan Appel, Assistant Dean of Education and Community Outreach at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. 

"We didn’t just deliver a preset menu of programs. Instead, we worked closely with schools and the San Diego County Office of Education to craft custom-designed programming that directly addresses unique challenges and priorities," he said.

Through innovative programming, a commitment to equity, and a focus on community engagement, this partnership is redefining what education can be.

Reimagining Learning Beyond the Classroom

Expanded learning is not a new concept. Programs like after-school clubs, weekend workshops, and holiday camps have long demonstrated their value in providing students with additional learning opportunities beyond the traditional 180-day school calendar. 

Even so, Johnson Davis sees a greater opportunity and significance.

"Expanded learning is about more than academics. It's about giving students meaningful experiences that shape who they are and who they can become," said Johnson Davis. “Experiences equals meaning, and this meaning-making process is a vital part of the learning process. In this type of learning lies the future of education."

Expanded learning emphasizes hands-on and immersive learning experiences that foster critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. They’ve also been shown to improve test scores, build vocabulary, and foster socialization. The programs can be especially impactful for students who may struggle with traditional learning environments where they fall through the cracks. 

“A math teacher might see a student struggling in class but thriving in a club where they're building skateboards and applying math principles. It changes how teachers view students and drives the exponentiality of potential," said Johnson Davis.

Appel also underscores how expanded learning programs can offer opportunities for students who might struggle otherwise.

"These programs forge an emotional and metacognitive attachment to the learning process,” added Appel. "They cultivate skills for classroom, college and career, like problem-solving, effective communication, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively."

A final additional advantage of expanded learning programs is they can be incredibly nimble and responsive to unique educational needs. They can offer a more diverse curriculum, and even work as a proving ground for new and innovative ideas. 

Programming Tailored to Community Needs

An important aspect of the collaboration between UC San Diego ECO and SDCOE is that programming solutions are tailored specifically to the needs of the communities being served. The partnership has leveraged critical resources and connections to bring in unique curricula and resources as needed. 

One program is a collaboration with the Boz Institute to bring hands-on life science laboratory experience to students from Vista Unified School District. They worked with practicing scientists to create experiences the students wouldn't have access to otherwise.

Other offerings included robotics courses and sustainability design projects from the renowned Sally Ride Science @UC San Diego.

More programming will be coming in the future too.

Recognizing the vital role of families in students' success, the initiative has also provided resources for non-English-speaking families, such as citizenship workshops and resilience training to help with the well-being of the whole community. 

Addressing Systemic Challenges and Educational Inequities

Another fundamental aspect of this partnership is bringing additional educational resources to the communities that would most benefit from them. 

Many of these schools chosen for this initiative have seen budgets eliminated for programs such as music, art, auto shop, and driver's education. Funding has also been cut for field trips and other opportunities for educational enrichment. 

“We've seen a shift away from well-rounded education," said Johnson Davis. "Expanded learning allows us to bring back those experiences, particularly for students who wouldn't otherwise have access to them."

Johnson Davis emphasized why this is especially important.

“Expanded learning is a space for innovation and creativity that schools in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods desperately need," said Johnson Davis. "Our emerging research shows that these programs provide stability and a sense of belonging for students. This is especially important for students who may lack access to such opportunities otherwise."

Supporting Educators with Innovative Pedagogy

A third critical aspect of this collaboration is laying the groundwork for offering additional expanded learning opportunities in the future. Both Appel and Johnson Davis highlighted this as a key aspect of the program's long-term health and value. 

The first piece is empowering educators to initiate their own expanded learning programs. Insights from the collaboration will be used to design a specialized certificate program that trains teachers in the important elements of expanded learning. Techniques will include Barbara Rogoff’s (UC Santa Cruz) 'learning by observing and pitching in' model, along with strategies for supporting young learners to take charge of their own education.

“We're challenging the system in a comforting way, helping educators move into innovative spaces without feeling overwhelmed,” said Johnson Davis. “If you build a portal for these stories and approaches, the community will build itself.” 

To better make the case for such programming in the future, a research component has been integrated. 

“We're interested in studying the long-term effects of expanded learning on student engagement, socialization, and academic outcomes," said Appel. "We also want to explore how institutions can collaborate more effectively to address community needs.”

Important findings in previous research studies on expanded learning have shown that such programs can have a tremendous impact on student agency and relationship-building.

"When expanded learning programs are dynamic, caring, and trauma-informed, students describe them as feeling like a family," said Johnson Davis. "They feel known, valued, and connected."

A third key piece of the groundwork is the nature of the collaboration itself.

"This partnership exemplifies how institutions can come together in real time to address urgent needs,” said Appel. “We demonstrated that when universities, school districts, and county offices work synergistically, we can accomplish remarkable things.” 

Lastly, the collaboration also aligns with UC San Diego’s broader mission as a land-grant university. 

"Our role isn't just to serve undergraduate and graduate students," Appel explained. "It is to serve our communities in meaningful ways. Even if these students never set foot on our campus as degree-seekers, we have a responsibility to contribute to their success."

A Vision for the Future of Expanded Learning

Looking ahead, Johnson Davis is optimistic about the potential to drive systemic change. She envisions creating a learning hub for innovation, where educators and researchers can share ideas and explore new best practices. 

“It's about creating a collective of people committed to expanding learning opportunities for all students," said Johnson Davis. "One ripple can make a huge difference. If one student has access to an experience like Sally Ride Science that they wouldn't have had otherwise, that could change the trajectory of their life."

Appel shares a similar vision, seeing expanded learning as a vital component of education's future. 

“We're at a critical juncture," said Appel. "If we don't adapt, we risk leaving a generation unprepared for the future. But if we seize opportunities like this, we can create transformative change."

By prioritizing experiential learning, fostering a sense of belonging, and equipping educators with the tools to innovate, the partnership between UC San Diego’s ECO program and the San Diego County Office of Education is boldly paving the way toward a more inclusive and innovative educational system. 

To learn more about UC San Diego Extended Studies Education and Community Outreach customized programs, visit https://ecoextension.ucsd.edu/. To learn more about San Diego County Office of Education expanded learning programs, visit https://www.sdcoe.net/students/expanded-learning.