Learning Communities

Student Information | Faculty Information | Current Learning Communities

Student Information

Learning communities are linked classes: the same group of students take two or more classes with the same instructors. The professors work together to ensure common themes in class assignments and activities, as well as accessibility to academic counseling and helpful services available on campus and in the community.

Students who are enrolled in learning communities are more likely to succeed academically. The learning community fosters a tight knit relationship between faculty and students. Join a learning community, receive extra support and make friends for a lifetime!

Cañada College offers a variety of learning communities. In consultation with your counselor, select the learning community based on your placement test score. To be a part of the learning community, you must remain enrolled in all sections.

*When registering on Websmart, you must enter each CRN (course reference number) for all classes within the specific learning community.

Fall 2011 Learning Communities

COLLEGE SUCCESS
These learning communities provide students the opportunity to complete their preparation for college level courses in a learning community. (3 or 4 linked courses)

85598 Read 826 BZ1 MW 8:10-10:35 3-142 Eslamieh 5 8/17-12/7
81178 Engl 826 BZ1 MW 10:45-11:35 3-142 Eslamieh 4 8/17-12/9
F 8:10-10:00 3-142
85399 CRER 401 BZ1 M 11:45-12:35 3-142 Stoner-Brito 1 8/22-12/5

89681 Read 826 BZ3 TTh 8:10 - 10:35 3-104 Terzakis 5 8/18-12/8
90792 Engl 826 BZ3 TTh 10:45 - 11:35 3-104 Terzakis 4 8/18-12/9
F 8:10-10:00 3-104
92167 CRER 401 BZ3 Th 11:45 - 12:35 3-104 Ramey 1 8/18-12/8

90685 Engl 836 BZ2 MW 8:10 - 10:00 13-117 Malavade 4 8/17-12/7
85601 Read 836 BZ2 MW 10:10 - 11:25 13-117 Malavade 3 8/17-12/7
89742 Hist 245 BZ2 F 9:10 - 12:00 13-111 Field 3 8/19-12/9
93085 CRER 407 BZ2 W 11:45 - 12:35 13-210 Stoner-Brito 1 8/17-12/7

81169 Engl 836 BZ6 TTh 8:10 - 10:00 03-117 Munson 4 8/18-12/8
89454 Read 836 BZ6 TTh 10:10 - 11:25 13-212 Munson 3 8/18-12/8
91476 CRER 407 BZ6 T 11:45 - 12:35 13-212 Stoner-Brito 1 8/23-12/6

COLLEGE SUCCESS IN THE EVENING
These 2 learning communities provide evening students the opportunity to participate in a learning community. (2 linked courses)

81182 Engl 826 BZ4 MW 6:00-8:05 13-117 Lawson 4 8/17-12/14
89135 CRER 401 BZ4 W 8:10 - 9:00 13-117 Staff 1 8/17-12/14

81536 Read 836 BZ5 W 7:05-10:10 3-104 Malatesta 3 8/17-12/14
92171 CRER 407 BZ5 W 6:00 - 6:50 3-104 Staff 1 8/17-12/14

ONE CHILDHOOD / TWO LANGUAGES
The goal of the One Childhood/Two Languages Learning Community is to assist second language learners in ECE to acquire English language skills. (2 linked courses)

93056 ESL 839 WZH SAT 8:30-11:45 GILL Haley 2 9/10-11/19
88167 ECE 335 ESH T 7:05-10:10 GILL Baxter 3 8/23-12/13

93058 ESL 880CC EZH T 7:05-10:10 GILL Gallagher 3 8/23-12/12
89061 ECE 212 ESH Th 7:05-10:10 GILL Palma 3 8/18-12/15

93057 ESL 880CC EZ1 Th 7:05-10:10 3-142 Bunse 3 8/18-12/15
90298 ECE 210 ES1 M 6:55-10:10 17-109 Palma 3 8/22-12/12

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP AND SUCCESS
The goal of the Academic Scholarship and Success Learning Community is to assist second language learners in earning the Preparation for Academic Scholarship and Success (PASS) Certificate. (2 linked courses)

90831 ESL 400 WZ1 TTh 9:45-12:00 13-113 Rana 5 8/18-12/8
93125 LIBR 100 PZ1 Th 12:10-1:00 9-312 Morton 1 8/18-12/8

90832 ESL 400 WZ2 TTh 7:00-9:20 13-212 Rana 5 8/18-12/15
92808 LIBR 100 PZ2 T 6:00-6:50 9-312 Morton 1 8/23-12/13

English for the Workforce Learning Communities
The goal of the English for Workforce Learning Community is to assist second language learners in acquiring English language and computer skills for work. (3 linked courses)

92755 ESL 901 LZH W 6:30-9:45 HAWS Farrell 3 8/31-12/14
80941 CBOT 430 LZH M 6:30-9:45 HAWS Clark 1.5 8/22-10/17
80943 CBOT 431 LZH M 6:30-9:45 HAWS Clark 1.5 10/24-12/12

92756 ESL 901 KZH M 6:30-9:45 HOOV Farrell 3 8/29-12/12
83392 CBOT 430 KZH Th 6:30-9:35 HOOV Haick 1.5 8/18-10/6
90231 CBOT 431 KZH Th 6:30-9:35 HOOV Haick 1.5 10/13-12/8

92757 ESL 901 NZH Th 6:30-9:35 TAFT Pelletier 3 9/1-12/15
89987 CBOT 430 NZH T 6:30-9:35 TAFT Haick 1.5 8/232-10/11
89988 CBOT 431 NZH T 6:30-9:35 TAFT Haick 1.5 10/18-12/6

Faculty Information

1. What are the benefits for your students?

Research says students will:

Find greater coherence in what they are learning
Learn more from courses that are integrated
Begin to understand the relationships between course contents and to apply new concepts and skills
Build a sense of identity
Form partnerships with peers, faculty, and the college community

2. Why should I teach in a learning community?

Research says teaching in a learning community:

Increases the sharing of teaching ideas among instructors
Facilitates discussion of scholarly topics across the disciplines
Broadens pedagogical repertoire of faculty
Promotes a deeper interaction among faculty and students

3. How are learning communities taught?

There are several learning community models. At Cañada, our LCs take the form of linked courses or learning clusters. A cohort of students enrolls in two courses that are paired with a common theme or materials. Faculty work together to design syllabi, joint assignments, and projects. “The best learning communities are classrooms where students are connected through meaningful conversations in cooperative groups with each other and their teachers” (Hess & Mason, 2005, p.30). Therefore, strategies for building active learning in the classroom are recommended for linked courses. Some examples include: collaborative and cooperative learning, discussion groups, field trips, problem-based learning, writing and speaking across the curriculum, ongoing reflection, and self-evaluation.

Hess, M. & Mason M. (2005). The Case for Learning Communities. Community College Journal, 76 (1), Aug/Sep, 30-35.

4. How do I participate in a learning community?

Contact your division dean if you would like to participate in one of the existing learning communities or are interested in designing one with another colleague.