Crossroads of Learning: Academic and Social Development in LivingLearning Communities

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Crossroads of Learning Academic and Social
Development in Living-Learning Communities

• National Academic Advising Association2006
  National Conference
• Indianapolis, Indiana

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Crossroads of Learning Academic and Social
Development in Living-Learning Communities

• Greg Nuttle
• Eric Harper
• University of Nevada

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Presentation Outline

• A Working Definition
• A Chronologically Random Historical Background
• A Qualitative Study
• An Application of Theory to Practice
• Some Questions and Some Answers
• A Best Practices Discussion

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Living-Learning CommunitiesWorking Definition

• Common residence
• Common curriculum
• Shared extracurricular activities

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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• University of Virginia-Jeffersons Academic
  Villages

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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• Harvard University (Colonial Colleges)

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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• Harvard University (Colonial Colleges)

TRIVIUM (Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic)
QUADRIVIUM (Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and
Music)
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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background
TRIVIUM (Grammar, Rhetoric, and Logic)
QUADRIVIUM (Arithmetic, Astronomy, Geometry, and
Music)
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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• Oxford and Cambridge Universities

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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• Oxford and Cambridge Universities

• University of Nevada, Reno

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Living-Learning CommunitiesHistorical Background

• The Collegiate Way
• Reform and Reaction
• Yale Report of 1828
• The Morrill Act of 1862
• Johns Hopkins University

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Living-Learning CommunitiesA Qualitative Study

• Student Perceptions of the Impact of a
  Living-Learning Community at the University of
  Nevada, Reno

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A Qualitative StudyIntroduction

• Living-Learning Communities at the University of
  Nevada, Reno
• The Undecided Student LLC

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A Qualitative StudyReview of Literature

• Satisfaction with College (Arminio, 1994)
• Student/Faculty Interaction (Garrett Zabriskie,
  20003)
• Academic Performance (Kanoy Bruhn, 1996 Rice
  Lightsey, 2001 Stassen, 2003)
• Involvement on Campus (Pike, Schroeder, Berry,
  1997)
• Personal Development Chickerings Vectors
  (Chickering Reisser, 1993)

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A Qualitative StudyMethodology

• Focus on Student Perceptions
• Participants (N5)
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis
• Limitations

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A Qualitative StudyResults

• Academic Transition
• Social Transition
• Satisfaction with College

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A Qualitative StudyAcademic Transition

• Being so close to the teachers without the
  extra help, the extra shove, some kids, not
  necessarily myself, some kids probably wouldnt
  be in class as much. Its a nice transition from
  high school to college, the in-between like, for
  English, we all live in the hall there, so if
  were late whats going on?

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A Qualitative StudySocial Transition

• Since youre always there and youre always
  around these people, you know them and you say
  hi to them you talk to them a little bit, you
  feel more comfortable talking to them than some
  stranger you dont know. Its like theyre
  always there and you know where they are, and
  where their rooms are if you ever need anything.

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A Qualitative StudySatisfaction with College

• If I didnt participate in the living-learning
  community I wouldnt have met so many people,
  that I have hung out with regularly I see people
  working out or studying I always have somebody.

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A Qualitative StudyDiscussion

• Positive effect of personal relationships with
  LLC instructors
• Classroom participation and involvement
• Relationships with other students

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Theory to Practice

• Importance of Faculty
• Integrative Learning Environments
• Emphasis on Positive Social Interaction

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Questions and Answers
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Best Practices
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Crossroads of Learning Academic and Social
Development in Living-Learning Communities

• National Academic Advising Association2006
  National Conference
• Indianapolis, Indiana