Building That Village: Strategies and Practices for Creating Community and Engaged Learning – Dr. Sandra Enos, Retired, Bryant University – We often hear that it takes a village to raise a child, but we hear less about how these villages are created and sustained. It takes a village to fully educate our students. What makes a community a village that cares for all of its members? How do we create communities that advance learning and engagement? How do we not only build those communities for our students but also teach them how to build those communities and foster belonging? This presentation will share research and strategies for building community and enhancing student learning across several dimensions. These strategies can be used in and out of the classroom.
Learning Communities 101: Developing and Implementing Learning Communities – Brad Hollingshead, Florida Southern College, and Rebecca Tumposky, Bunker Hill Community College – Wondering how to begin learning communities on your campus? Brad Hollingshead and Rebecca Tumposky will lead you through the process of imagining and creating learning communities on your campus, following proven strategies and using personal experience.
Balancing Use of Early Alert Systems: How to Use Community First – Sue Maxam, Pace University – Early Alert Programs, also known as “Early Warning Systems,” are a recognized tool for improving college student retention. However, institutions should not solely rely on them to determine students who may be struggling, academically or otherwise. Colleges that take a more holistic approach in identifying those in need (in addition to the early alert system) in terms of partnerships, resources, and programs can further increase student success, retention and even satisfaction. This session will discuss such tools and practices while providing an opportunity for participants to share their own best practices.
Learning Communities 102: Sustaining Existing Learning Communities – Pat Morelli, Independent Learning Communities Practitioner – This workshop aims to provide more experienced Learning Community faculty with ideas and cross-disciplinary assignments to refresh their pedagogy. Some information may be applicable to Learning Communities that continue beyond the first-year experience. We can also converse about ways to generate faculty interest and participation and the dividends to faculty too as well as student-centered benefits. (Click here for the corresponding worksheet.)
Career Counseling – George J. Hill and Lisa Paler-Holzmann, Kingsborough Community College – In this session, George Hill and Lisa Paler-Holzmann will discuss the ways they incorporate Career Counseling into Learning Communities, both in individual classes and the link as a whole, using joint assignments that connect across different courses. They will discuss the use of Career Counseling tools and resources, such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and assessments that students can take to guide their career planning.
How to Incorporate Wellness Practices into the Classroom (World Cafe Table Notes) – Sue Maxam, Pace University
The Atlantic Center for Learning Communities 