2008 Woodie Awards
Project helps students learn by working together
Will Bowlin
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
Amarillo College's innovative learning community program provides students with new, dynamic ways to learn and get to know each other through shared classes and instructor collaboration.
The way it works is instead of taking each class individually, students sign up for a specific learning community, such as the pre-allied health or fast track math communities.
Communities usually consist of two to four courses, which groups of students attend together.
The instructors work together as well creating a strong synergy among the classes.
Courtney Milleson, director of the learning communities project, described taking classes in the project as more rewarding and beneficial than taking each class individually because of the level of involvement of the instructors and the sense of fellowship that forms between the students.
"It's very hard to get into a class when no one notices that you're missing," she said.
"It makes it easier when you have a sense of belonging to the class."
Don Abel, an assistant professor of mass communication and speech, described how one of the communities he is involved with works.
Students in the community are signed up for public speaking, history and college success courses.
In the history class, students learn about a topic and then in the public speaking class, they are assigned a speech over the same topic.
Finally, in the college success class, students research the topic and write their speeches.
It is an example of how courses are set up in such a way that they build off one another and allow students to have a different kind of experience in the classroom.
"This is a community college, and we gear everything we do towards the students," Abel said.
"It encourages students to work together.
"It helps build bonds and helps students get to know each other."
Students interested in taking part in a learning community have numerous options.
This semester seven communities were offered, including Culturally Twisted Reading, which includes the courses Reading Tech II and Minority Studies, and one online community called Learning is Doing, which integrates career and life planning into the general study of psychology.
Next spring, students will have even more options as the program will offer 15 communities, including the new mortuary science and engineering communities.
Nick Andrew, a graphic design major, considered the benefits of enrolling in a learning community this spring.
"I like the idea because it would let me have a more one-on-one relationship with my instructors," Andrew said.
Learning communities are offered online and on the Washington Street Campus. Expanding the program to the Moore County and Hereford campuses is being considered.
Students interested in taking part in a learning community should visit www.actx.edu/lc or talk to their counselor.
The way it works is instead of taking each class individually, students sign up for a specific learning community, such as the pre-allied health or fast track math communities.
Communities usually consist of two to four courses, which groups of students attend together.
The instructors work together as well creating a strong synergy among the classes.
Courtney Milleson, director of the learning communities project, described taking classes in the project as more rewarding and beneficial than taking each class individually because of the level of involvement of the instructors and the sense of fellowship that forms between the students.
"It's very hard to get into a class when no one notices that you're missing," she said.
"It makes it easier when you have a sense of belonging to the class."
Don Abel, an assistant professor of mass communication and speech, described how one of the communities he is involved with works.
Students in the community are signed up for public speaking, history and college success courses.
In the history class, students learn about a topic and then in the public speaking class, they are assigned a speech over the same topic.
Finally, in the college success class, students research the topic and write their speeches.
It is an example of how courses are set up in such a way that they build off one another and allow students to have a different kind of experience in the classroom.
"This is a community college, and we gear everything we do towards the students," Abel said.
"It encourages students to work together.
"It helps build bonds and helps students get to know each other."
Students interested in taking part in a learning community have numerous options.
This semester seven communities were offered, including Culturally Twisted Reading, which includes the courses Reading Tech II and Minority Studies, and one online community called Learning is Doing, which integrates career and life planning into the general study of psychology.
Next spring, students will have even more options as the program will offer 15 communities, including the new mortuary science and engineering communities.
Nick Andrew, a graphic design major, considered the benefits of enrolling in a learning community this spring.
"I like the idea because it would let me have a more one-on-one relationship with my instructors," Andrew said.
Learning communities are offered online and on the Washington Street Campus. Expanding the program to the Moore County and Hereford campuses is being considered.
Students interested in taking part in a learning community should visit www.actx.edu/lc or talk to their counselor.
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