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What is the importance of community in learning
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Freshman learning communities (FLC) are programs where 15 to 30 first-year students register for several general-education courses that focus on a common theme (Jaffee, 2004). Although there are several different types of learning communities, they all are designed for the same purposes. One of the main purposes in implementing freshman learning communities is to assist the students in their transition to a new environment. This acclimation involves becoming better acquainted with the other students, faculty members, campus culture, and academic expectations. However, with freshman learning communities also come negative aspects. Both facets must be evaluated to determine if freshman learning communities are effective.
The greatest advantage in participating in freshman learning communities is the chance to interact and socialize with a group of students known as a cohort. Lichtenstein (2005) noted that these programs are based on the premise that the better the student’s social involvement in the life of the college, the greater chance for academic success. Not only does this cohort of students assist in reducing the anxiety of the transition, but also gives students the social support needed to successfully progress through college (Engberg, 2007). Because of the small size, students are given a greater chance of participating, discussion, and overall getting to know one another. Students in learning communities not only tend to form their own support groups that extend beyond the classroom, but also spend more time together outside of class (Tinto 2000). Discussions outside of class, social activities, and study groups are all encouraged to participate in as a cohort.
Since students are usually grouped by commonalities, th...
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...s can be addressed and decreased so that the first-year students are getting exactly what is intended from the courses and activities.
Works Cited
Engberg. M. E. (2007). The influence of first-year “success” courses on student learning and democratic outcomes. Journal of College Student Development, 48, 241-258.
Jaffee, D. (2007). Peer cohorts and the unintended consequences of freshman learning communities. College Teaching, 55, 65-71.
Jaffee, D. (2004, July 9). Learning communities can be cohesive and divisive. The Chronicle of Higher Education, B16.
Lichtenstein, M. (2005). The importance of classroom environments in the assessment of learning community outcomes. Journal of College Student Development, 46, 341-356.
Tinto, V. (2000). What have we learned about the impact of learning communities on students?
Assessment Update, 12, 1-2, 12.
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...e term “empty and sentimental…and the extraordinary power one can gain through speaking/writing in an actual community is ignored” (Harris 134-135). He brings up Bartholomae, as his work shows that universities have many communities that “shift subtly” and are always changing. Bartholomae says universities are along the lines of Harris’ discussion of public. Lastly, Harris worries in teaching students in a particular common way, as it will lead to agreeing with everything their professors tell them, which he argues against. Students should be working toward some well-defined version of composition. He doesn’t want students to stop being who they are. To Harris, community does not mean consensus. He offers the metaphor of a city, allowing for consensus and conflict, rather than the idea of one utopian community because he doesn’t want no Jesuses in his Promise Land.
From my experiences in high school, I know the kind of academic environment I want for my college experience. For the last four years, I’ve thrived as part of the International Baccalaureate program at Poudre High School, which bears significant similarities to the Norlin Scholars program: both involve a community of engaged, academically motivated students who take rigorous core classes together and live within a larger school community. The IB program has been instrumental in my development as a student and as a person during my time in high school. I’ve found that being surrounded by brilliant, motivated peers is both motivating and intellectually invigorating for me, and drives me to reach new heights. When your peers are all incredibly well-informed and passionate,
Although community colleges struggle with low retention and transfer rates, Everett (2015) mentioned that community colleges created opportunities for first-generation students through five divisions of admission (p. 52). The intention of this article was to address the five divisions of access provided by community colleges for first-generation college students which include: financial accessibility, geographic accessibility, programmatic accessibility, academic accessibility, cultural/social/physical accessibility and also the problems faced by these students after admission.
Success. Society tends to correlate “success” with the obtainment of a higher education. But what leads to a higher education? What many are reluctant to admit is that the American dream has fallen. Class division has become nearly impossible to repair. From educations such as Stanford, Harvard, and UCLA to vocational, adult programs, and community, pertaining to one education solely relies on one’s social class. Social class surreptitiously defines your “success”, the hidden curriculum of what your socioeconomic education teaches you to stay with in that social class.
Most first generation college students are significantly older than the average, approximately 24 year of age (Pascarella et. al 2004). The surrounding low-income environments that many of these students are raised around can explain this late age. This financial pressure can also explain another category of first generation students, preparation (Chen & Carroll, 2005). These students are often less prepared to enter the college life. They have not been exposed to the necessary preparation needed to succeed on college admissions tests and furthermore don’t meet the performance requirements that universities and institutions require. Analyzing the prefaces that surround the environment of first generation college students aids in understanding current problems faced in college as well as assist in proposing solutions for this subset of
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For the past few decades, receiving a college education has been a stressed importance in today’s society. However it is often misunderstood that attending a 4-year school is the best and only way to go. Following this belief, many students attend these schools with out being academically, financially, or mentally prepared. Unfortunately students like this have failed to over look the more realistic options available to them, such as community college. Junior college is a resource available to anyone regardless of his or her previous academic performance. The variety of courses and the inexpensive tuition gives students flexibility to explore the many options presented to them. Though Universities hold more prestige, community colleges provide endless opportunities for students who aren’t fully prepared for a 4-year education
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After my first few months of college, I realized I enjoy being a college student much more than I enjoyed being a high school student. However, the transition between the two extremely diverse worlds, was challenging at first, I found out how to overcome it. Originally, I couldn’t realize how different the two were, but as time went on, I was about to notice the differences. Not everyone is able to be aware of the many similarities and difference. Some differences include: cost, amount of freedom, and reasons why people are there. On the other hand, both high school and college have similar class structure and both require time management. The better prepared a student is to challenged with these many similarities and differences, the more
Palmer, Parker J. “The Quest for Community in Higher Education.” Criteria 2011-2012: A Journal of First-year Writing. Eds. Mary K. Jackman and Lee Gibson. Dallas: SMU Dept. of English, 2011. 46-55. Print.
As a new freshman entering this Community College, you will be discovering and experiencing many new things about the world in which you live and yourself. The jump from high school to college can be a very scary but exciting experience. I have some valuable advice for you on how to make this transition smoother and an enjoyable experience rather than a scary and lonely one.
Tagg, John. “Why Learn? What We May Really Be Teaching Students.” About Campus. 2004. Print.
In this paper, I will examine the importance of interaction in constructivist online learning environment and how the community affects online learning.