Learning Communities at Modesto Junior College

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Learning Communities at Modesto Junior College

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What are learning communities?

• Two or more courses that are linked together in
  the schedule of classes
• Students enroll in all of the linked courses as a
  package
• Learning community courses are linked by course
  themes or specific majors

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• Students form a supportive community of learners
  and make new friends
• Instructors meet regularly to develop course
  themes and work together on integrating course
  objectives and activities
• Course content is integrated to help students
  connect ideas between courses in their learning
  community
• Learning community instructors use innovative
  teaching techniques, such as experiential
  learning, service learning, problem-centered
  learning, field trips, collaborative learning

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What are some learning community models?
Linked Courses Students register for two
courses that are paired together as a learning
community with a theme or specific major
Freshman Interest Group (FIGS) Students attend
the large lectures and then meet as a Freshman
Interest Group to do activities that integrate
ideas, support concepts from the lecture courses
and reinforce applied study skills Clusters
Clusters are groups of two, three, or four
stand-alone courses where students co-enroll as a
group. These courses are often theme-based or
major specific and may be team taught
FIG
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What are the benefits of learning
communities? MAKING CONNECTIONS
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Students Connect

• With the college experience
• With other students
• With the faculty
• With the subject and materials in individual
  classes
• With the subject and materials between courses

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• Faculty Members
• Connect

• Learning communities are personally, socially,
  and professionally beneficial to most faculty
  members
• Learning communities give faculty members the
  opportunity to work with peers, gain inspiration,
  and rejuvenate themselves

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What does research tell us about learning
community outcomes?(Vincent Tintos research
study with of the National Center for
Post-Secondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment)

• Students in learning communities showed higher
  persistence rates than students in regular
  classes
• Collaborative classroom teams offer students
  ownership of their learning as they become active
  participants in their education

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• Collaborative learning and learning communities
  foster students' involvement in academic and
  social activities, provide a welcoming and
  supportive campus climate, and promote classroom
  involvement
• Because of a feeling of obligation to peers,
  members of learning communities were more likely
  to attend classes regularly than students not in
  these communities

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Jeri Lindblads analysis of 63 learning community
assessment studies dating from 1988 1999
reports favorable student outcomes in areas such
as,

• Retention
• Persistence
• Critical thinking
• Tolerance for multiple perspectives
• Self awareness
• Motivation

http//www.doit.gmu.edu/Archives/fall0
0/awilliams_1.htm
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• Students increase in cognitive complexity at a
  faster rate than student in stand-alone classes
  or in nationally normed samples
• Students report the greatest gain in their
  ability to understand other points of view and
  engage in analysis and integration of ideas

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• Not only do students benefit from participating
  in learning communities, but faculty who instruct
  them derive positive results
• By making educational experiences more coherent
  and meaningful, LC fosters a greater sense of
  community among learners, promotes greater
  retention and achievement for students, and
  revitalizes the teaching experience for faculty
  members (http//www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/ilc/mon
  ograph/).

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An Umbrella for Linked Courses Innovative
Pedagogies
MJCs Learning Community Program
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What learning community projects exist or are
being developed at MJC?

• PEAK (Pre-collegiate Education for Academic
  Knowledge) Basic Skills Learning Communities
• Transfer Learning Communities
• Vocational Education Learning Communities
• Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum
  Learning Communities

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More information about MJCs learning community
projects
To be piloted in Fall 2004 Vocational Education
Learning Communities
-and- Writing/Reading across the Curriculum
Learning Communities
PEAK Basic Skills Learning Communities More than
300 students have enrolled in PEAK learning
communities since Spring 2001 Transfer
Learning Communities (TLC) Three sections of
TLCs have been piloted
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What do MJC students think about learning
communities?
PEAK Student Survey Results Did you like the
PEAK Learning Community and/or would you
recommend it to other students?
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MJC's Potential Learning Community Program
Umbrella

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Major Specific Learning Communities
Honors Learning Communities
PEAK (Pre-collegiate Education for Academic
Knowledge) Basic Skills Learning Communities
Vocational Education Learning Communities
Writing (or) Reading Across the Curriculum Learni
ng Communities
First Year Experience Learning Communities
Interdisciplinary Studies Learning Communities
Transfer Learning Communities (TLC)
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How are learning community programs supported at
MJC?

• MJCs Office of Instruction provides academic,
  financial, and professional development resources
  for the Learning Community Program
• MJCs current Title V Grant supports some
  learning community pilot projects
• Various divisions and departments provide
  incentives for learning community endeavors
• The San Joaquin Learning Community Consortium
  offers professional development activities

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The expansion and institutionalization of
learning communities at MJC Issues to consider
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• What types of learning communities should be
  developed?
• What are the barriers to developing effective
  learning communities?
• How can the college support the expansion and
  institutionalization of learning communities?

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How can you participate in MJCs Learning
Community Program?

• Join the College Learning Community Committee
• Take the Learning Community Independent Study
  course this Spring
• Develop and pilot learning communities with
  faculty teams