January 22, 2014 | SharkAdmin From Heather McCreeryChair of NVC Workforce Technical Programs “I loved how my learning community class changed the feel of classroom interactions. I taught 2 sections of the same class last semester so it was an easy, side-by-side comparison for me to make. Students in my learning community section were far more friendly and interactive with each other. They also go to this stage of comfort with each other much more quickly. They really seemed to care about each other and did little things like celebrating birthdays and encouraging each other non-academically. I think the learning community was the perfect model to create a sense of belonging within the classroom. Since we are a commuter campus, I think learning communities offer an amazing opportunity to engage and include all students around an academic theme.” What is a learning community? Learning communities consist of two (2) courses that are linked or blocked together. When you enroll in a learning community, you must register for both courses. The structure of each learning community can vary among courses and instructors. Some learning communities will incorporate a common theme that is woven into the curriculum of both linked courses. Others will simply provide an opportunity to build and establish a support network across campus. In either case, you will be taking classes with the same student cohort and instructors. This makes it easier to develop new friendships with your peers and allows you to form study groups that will help you succeed throughout your college career. To learn more about Learning Communities or propose one, see link.
