Instructors create learning opportunity for students

by Britni Palomino, photo editor

 

Several South Plains College professors are gathering together to help students save time and put emphasis on real-world applications with a program called Learning Communities.

The program is a new approach to traditional courses of study, featuring a cluster of classes students will attend throughout the semester.

This semester there is one learning community currently being led by Annette Davis-Smith and Dr. Linda McGann. Students participating in this learning community are education majors who have completed English 1301. Students enrolled in both Education 1301, Section 002, which meets on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., and English 1302, Section 015, which meets from 1 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The students will work closely with a group of professors who will teach a variety of programs.

Beginning with the Spring 2009 semester, courses in speech and human relations, English, Introduction to Statistics and Research Methods, Mexican American Studies and Exploring Human Legacies will be offered in Levelland. Janna Holt-Day, Cindy Brown, Dan English, Ginny Mahan, Dr. Wanda Clark, Dr. Linda McGann, Sara English, and Robyn Inmon will teach these courses.

 Courses in reading, english, math and orientation will be taught by Donna Scarborough, Martha Jones, Helen Holley, Linda Miller and Joseph Fly on the Reese Center campus. Plainview will offer Career and Self Evaluation, combined with Introduction to Sociology, taught by Camille Lewis and Rick Herbert, respectively.

Learning Communities benefit both the students and faculty participating. Some of the benefits for students include integrated assignments, improved overall retention, and increased time with faculty. It also can increase effective time use.

“By coordinating and integrating course work, we have been able to maintain course objectives while reducing student workload,” said Dr.Wanda Clark, professor of psychology and sociology.

Faculty benefits include increased student interest and retention, enhanced interaction between faculty and students, and increased support and guidance. Sharing classes with the same group of students and teachers benefits everyone by helping build stronger bonds.

“ It helps form a tighter group, because they all go to class together,” said Janna Holt-Day, assistant professor of speech communications “It forms a community.”

Course content will be linked to educational issues. Fifteen instructors completed an institute this summer, and five instructors and one administrator completed an institute in Washington at Evergreen State University. The professors include Janna Holt-Day, Cindy Brown, Dr. Wanda Clark, Dr. Linda McGann, Annette Davis-Smith and Dean Cathy Mitchell.

Photo by Sagan Wilks/Plainsman Press