NISOD 2009NISOD 2009

Building a Successful Building a Successful Learning Community Learning Community

Program: Program:

Colleges Learning From Colleges Learning From Each OtherEach Other

Jeanine Lewis

Aims

Liz Dewey

Delta

Maureen PettittSkagit Valley

Session TopicsSession Topics

Skagit Valley’s Counseling-Enhanced Skagit Valley’s Counseling-Enhanced Developmental Learning CommunitiesDevelopmental Learning Communities

Mentoring Project OverviewMentoring Project Overview Activities, Challenges and Lessons Activities, Challenges and Lessons

Aims Aims DeltaDelta

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts QuestionsQuestions

Learning Communities at SVCLearning Communities at SVC Curricular Learning Communities have Curricular Learning Communities have

been offered at Skagit since 1986 and been offered at Skagit since 1986 and required for the transfer degree since 1993required for the transfer degree since 1993

Approximately 40 LCs are offered at SVC Approximately 40 LCs are offered at SVC each yeareach year

Learning Community proposals focus on Learning Community proposals focus on collaborative learning, community-building, collaborative learning, community-building, and integrative outcomesand integrative outcomes

Our CCSSE data suggests positive resultsOur CCSSE data suggests positive results

CCSSE BenchmarksCCSSE Benchmarks

5 8 . 3

4 9 . 7

5 3 . 0

5 0 . 1

5 3 . 7

5 0 . 1

5 6 . 6

4 9 . 9

5 2 . 1

4 9 . 6

4 4

4 6

4 8

5 0

5 2

5 4

5 6

5 8

6 0

A c t i v e &C o l l a b o r a t i v e

L e a r n i n g

S t u d e n t E f f o r t A c a d e m i cC h a l l e n g e

S t u - F a cI n t e r a c t i o n

S u p p o r t f o rL e a r n e r s

S V C M e d i u m C o l l e g e s A l l C o l l e g e s

Counseling-Enhanced Counseling-Enhanced Developmental Learning Developmental Learning

CommunitiesCommunities

““Students need to develop the Students need to develop the abilities associated with ‘learning abilities associated with ‘learning

how to learn’ in multiple and varied how to learn’ in multiple and varied contexts—a key learning goal of contexts—a key learning goal of curriculum aimed at preparing curriculum aimed at preparing students for college-level work”students for college-level work”

Malnarich, G., et al. (2003). “The Pedagogy of Possibilities:

Developmental Education, College-Level Studies, and Learning Communities,”

p.27.

ImperativesImperatives

Approximately half of students new to the Approximately half of students new to the college test into developmental Englishcollege test into developmental English

Nearly 90% test into developmental mathNearly 90% test into developmental math The “C or better” pass rate in The “C or better” pass rate in

developmental math (as a percent of developmental math (as a percent of students enrolled the 10students enrolled the 10thth day) averages day) averages 65%.65%.

GoalsGoals

1.1. Expand our developmental Learning Expand our developmental Learning Community offerings to improve student Community offerings to improve student success in Mathematics and Englishsuccess in Mathematics and English

2.2. Integrate student services with Integrate student services with instruction to increase collaboration and instruction to increase collaboration and to enhance faculty advising skillsto enhance faculty advising skills

3.3. Use a research model to inform project Use a research model to inform project planning and measure successplanning and measure success

MATH 96Counselor covers 5 topics:

•Time ManagementTime Management•Note-takingNote-taking•Test preparation/test Test preparation/test anxietyanxiety•Educational PlanningEducational Planning•College ResourcesCollege ResourcesREAD 97

ExampleExample C-E Developmental C-E Developmental Learning Community:Learning Community:

““Reading Between the Numbers”Reading Between the Numbers”

Common discussions/ assignments

Fall 2007 Data:Fall 2007 Data:Percent of Students Enrolled at 10Percent of Students Enrolled at 10th-th-day day

Who Earned a C or BetterWho Earned a C or Better MATH 96 47%

READ 97 59%

MATH 96 52%

ENGL 07 67%

MATH 97 56%

SPCH 100 60%

MATH 96 55%

MATH 97 64%

ENGL 97 54%

Counseling-Enhanced

Developmental LCs

Developmental LC

Stand Alone Courses

Fall 2007-Winter 2008 RetentionFall 2007-Winter 2008 Retention

82%

76%

74%

70% 75% 80% 85%

C-E Dev LC

Dev LC

Stand Alone

Fall 2008 DataFall 2008 Data

Performance Measures

Counseling-Enhanced

Developmental Learning

Communities

Stand–Alone Comparison

Courses

Pass rate - any passing grade 83% 78%

Pass rate - C or better 74% 68%

Fall to Winter Retention 91% 85%

Faculty FeedbackFaculty Feedback

StrengthsStrengths Having the counselor in the classroom Having the counselor in the classroom

really enhanced the connections made in really enhanced the connections made in the classroom and improved the the classroom and improved the interaction and dynamic for discussions interaction and dynamic for discussions and lectures and lectures

ChallengesChallenges Finding time (or the right time) to fit in the Finding time (or the right time) to fit in the

counseling modulescounseling modules

Student Feedback – LC SurveyStudent Feedback – LC Survey

CodeX (Math 96 & English 97)CodeX (Math 96 & English 97) I liked having 2 classes at once rather I liked having 2 classes at once rather

than only have 1 at a time. I feel I than only have 1 at a time. I feel I learned more too.learned more too.

Was fun. Very intriguing.Was fun. Very intriguing. I think combined classes are a great I think combined classes are a great

way to learn.way to learn. I like having these two classes together I like having these two classes together

because it makes me feel more because it makes me feel more connected -- knowing the same people connected -- knowing the same people and teachers are working together.and teachers are working together.

Student Voices – Student Voices – Counseling-Enhanced Dev LCsCounseling-Enhanced Dev LCs

Vanessa, Antonio, Kyle, Danielle & Alexsey Vanessa, Antonio, Kyle, Danielle & Alexsey ““Having a counselor in the class helped a Having a counselor in the class helped a

lot.”lot.” The counselor “taught us how to be The counselor “taught us how to be

successful,” “how to help ourselves;” “be successful,” “how to help ourselves;” “be here now;” “drink mint tea”here now;” “drink mint tea”

““I take the strategies I learned [from the I take the strategies I learned [from the teachers and the counselor] and use them teachers and the counselor] and use them in my other classes.”in my other classes.”

Some Keys to our Successful Some Keys to our Successful LC program at SVCLC program at SVC

The program is faculty-drivenThe program is faculty-driven It is student-focusedIt is student-focused Course integration is intentional and tied to Course integration is intentional and tied to

learning outcomeslearning outcomes We systematically assess LC outcomesWe systematically assess LC outcomes The program is supported by the The program is supported by the

administrationadministration

College Mentoring ProgramCollege Mentoring Program

OverviewOverview

Initiative funded by the Dept. of Ed and Initiative funded by the Dept. of Ed and administered by JBL Associatesadministered by JBL Associates

Six mentoring communities, each with a Six mentoring communities, each with a different focus relevant to community different focus relevant to community collegescolleges

GoalsGoals Encourage the exchange of ideas and Encourage the exchange of ideas and

knowledge knowledge Use existing successful strategies to advance Use existing successful strategies to advance

“mentee” college initiatives“mentee” college initiatives

Aims Community CollegeAims Community College

Aims’ New Learning CommunitiesAims’ New Learning Communities

““Reading, Mathematics and Study Skills: Reading, Mathematics and Study Skills: A Successful Combination”A Successful Combination” REA 090, MAT 030, MAT 060, AAA 101 REA 090, MAT 030, MAT 060, AAA 101

““Paving Your Way to Success”Paving Your Way to Success” ENG 121, MAT 090, AAA 101 ENG 121, MAT 090, AAA 101

““Math to Build On”Math to Build On” MAT 030, MAT 060, AAA 101MAT 030, MAT 060, AAA 101

““Success in Writing Through Psychology”Success in Writing Through Psychology” PSY 101, ENG 090, AAA 101 PSY 101, ENG 090, AAA 101

Challenges of Implementing Challenges of Implementing Learning Communities Learning Communities

Historical “baggage” of learning Historical “baggage” of learning communities not supported by the communities not supported by the college college

Contentious relationship between Contentious relationship between student services personnel and faculty student services personnel and faculty

Faculty compensation (teaching load, Faculty compensation (teaching load, release time, monetary compensation)release time, monetary compensation)

What Aims LearnedWhat Aims Learned

Many of the struggles to implement learning Many of the struggles to implement learning communities are similar across the nationcommunities are similar across the nation

A huge part of the success of learning A huge part of the success of learning communities is the support given and received communities is the support given and received by the entire college toward learning by the entire college toward learning communitiescommunities

There is an overwhelming feeling of a “safe There is an overwhelming feeling of a “safe zone” at Skagit Valley College with regard to zone” at Skagit Valley College with regard to their learning communitiestheir learning communities

Delta CollegeDelta College

Delta’s New Learning CommunitiesDelta’s New Learning Communities

““The Science of Success”– 12 creditsThe Science of Success”– 12 credits ENG090, MTH092, SCI099, LW220ENG090, MTH092, SCI099, LW220

““Start Here, Go Anywhere!”– 12 creditsStart Here, Go Anywhere!”– 12 credits ENG090, MTH092, COM112, LW220, ENG090, MTH092, COM112, LW220,

CST091CST091

Delta’s ProcessDelta’s Process

Good history of Learning Communities since Good history of Learning Communities since 19921992

AQUIP project to coordinate developmental AQUIP project to coordinate developmental education 2007education 2007

Idea to create dev ed learning community with Idea to create dev ed learning community with orientation-type content and activities 2008orientation-type content and activities 2008

Received Endowed Chair to create counselor-Received Endowed Chair to create counselor-enhanced dev ed learning communities Oct. 2008enhanced dev ed learning communities Oct. 2008

Heard about, applied for, and received the Heard about, applied for, and received the College Mentor Grant Oct. 2008 (!)College Mentor Grant Oct. 2008 (!)

What Delta LearnedWhat Delta Learned

To base communities on what To base communities on what studentsstudents needneed

How counselors function in How counselors function in communitiescommunities

Benefits to all of counselor presenceBenefits to all of counselor presence Importance of follow-up communitiesImportance of follow-up communities Ways to assess impact of communitiesWays to assess impact of communities

What we’ve done based What we’ve done based on what we learnedon what we learned

Shared planning and assessment info with Shared planning and assessment info with our Learning Communities Director and our Learning Communities Director and Advisory BoardAdvisory Board

Met several times with counseling staffMet several times with counseling staff Sent counseling staff to visit Skagit ValleySent counseling staff to visit Skagit Valley Brought LC faculty and staff together Brought LC faculty and staff together Started planning Winter 2010 communitiesStarted planning Winter 2010 communities

Closing Closing ThoughtsThoughts

or: or:

Where our Where our ambitions ambitions

took ustook us

What We Learned CollectivelyWhat We Learned Collectively

The value of learning communities for The value of learning communities for ALL studentsALL students

The substantial pay-off from the The substantial pay-off from the sharing and collaboration that has sharing and collaboration that has occurred in our mentoring communityoccurred in our mentoring community

The importance of adapting strategies The importance of adapting strategies to fit the specific institutional culture to fit the specific institutional culture

"You are led through "You are led through your lifetime by the inner your lifetime by the inner

learning creature, the learning creature, the playful spiritual being playful spiritual being that is your real self."that is your real self."

Richard Bach, novelistRichard Bach, novelist