Learning Communities Reforming Undergraduate Education

by Smith, Barbara Leigh; MacGregor, Jean; Matthews, Roberta; Gabelnick, Faith

• ISBN13: 9780787910365
• ISBN10: 0787910368
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-09-08
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Learning Communities is a groundbreaking book that shows how learning communities (LCs) can be a flexible and effective approach to enhancing student learning, promoting curricular coherence, and revitalizing faculty. Written by Barbara Leigh Smith, Jean MacGregor, Roberta S. Matthews, and Faith Gabelnickacclaimed national leaders in the learning communities movementthis important book provides the historical, conceptual, and philosophical context for LCs and clearly demonstrates that they can be a key element in institutional transformation.

Author Biography

Barbara Leigh Smith is a Senior Scholar at the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education, an emeritus member of the faculty, and former provost and vice president for academic affairs at The Evergreen State College. Smith and Jean MacGregor are founders of the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education which has led learning community development for twenty years.<BR> Jean MacGregor is a Senior Scholar at the Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education and teaches in the master of environmental studies program at The Evergreen State College. <BR> Roberta S. Matthews is provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of English at Brooklyn College. <BR> Faith Gabelnick was president emerita of Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon, and president of Gabelnick Consulting Institute.

Table of Contents

Introduction.

The Authors.

PART ONE: The Contemporary and Historical Context of Learning Communities.

1. Learning Communities and Undergraduate Education Reform.

2. Learning Community History: Education for What? Education for Whom?

PART TWO: Learning Community Structures and Practices.

3. Learning Community Curricular Structures.

4. Core Practices in Learning Communities.

PART THREE: Rich Arenas for Reform.

5. General Education, the First Year of College, and Learning Communities.

6. Success for All: Learning Communities in Basic Skills and English as a Second Language Settings.

PART FOUR: Initiating and Strengthening Learning Communities.

7. Information and Feedback: Using Assessment to Strengthen and Sustain Learning Communities.

8. Recruiting and Supporting Learning Community Teachers.

9. Initiating and Sustaining Learning Communities.

PART FIVE: Conclusion.

10. The Future of Learning Communities.

References.

Notes.

Name Index.

Subject Index.