Going to a commuter college such as Sinclair Community College can sometimes make it difficult to meet new people and make integral relationships, especially in the first year. Learning Communities change that by allowing more time for interactions with other students that help build those connections, according to Aaron Moyer, English professor.
The program is designed to integrate two classes, such as an English and Student Success Course, keeping students together and combining assignments from the two, according to Moyer.
“It’s really difficult for people to get to know each other in the first term. At least with a learning community it gives them a little bit more face-to-face time with each other that they might be able to have the support they need from their peers,” Moyer said. “That way they can build more support, study groups and friendships. Some people have fallen in love. There is a lot that can happen.”
The other plus to these classes, according to Moyer is that the professors will work together to combine assignments. This allows students to only turn in one paper or project for both classes, although they still are graded by the requirements for that one class.
“When we give out the assignment we say ‘you need to do this, this and this to meet both of our needs,’” Moyer said. “And that’s the way all of the learning partners run. We are paired with a class that makes sense and students will probably have to take in their programs. It’s not saying let’s throw algebra together with dance.”
The latest development in the program has been to turn some of these linked classes into hybrid courses, which involves taking students outside of the classroom and giving them more online work.
“It allows students who have really tight schedules to still have the learning community experience,” Moyer said. “With two linked classes they would typically have to be here five or six hours a week. With the hybrid communities they only have to be here half that amount of time.”
Although the hybrid communities do work out well for those who understand what they are getting into, those who don’t might have trouble.
“The biggest problem is when a student comes into it and even though they are told it’s going to be a combination of online, outside, face to face work, there’s always a problem with one of those options,” Moyer said. “The problems are basic misunderstanding of the strategies and teaching models we are combining. I don’t think that’s an advising issue it’s just probably based on our own individual experiences, how we define it when we come into it or what we hope it will be.”
The best people to try out it are the ones who understand how to use computers and use e-mail effectively.
“Anything that can be delivered electronically in an effective way is what we have pulled out of the classroom experience,” Moyer said. “So if students just don’t have those tech savvy skills, that will always be their weakness in the course.”
Moyer said he has not seen a difference with his regular classes and learning community classes when it comes to grades or how many people are left standing at the end of the quarter, but there is a major social difference that makes a great impact.
“The difference is that I see more of my students who will eat together, go out together, call each other on the phone in a learning community,” Moyer said. “The other thing that happens is they will help in filling in when someone is absent. In my other classes, that never happens. Sometimes even grabbing extra handouts for people. There is definitely a sense of community, commitment and connection to each other.”
Students interested in taking the learning or hybrid community classes need to speak with an academic advisor when registering for classes.