The skinny on MCC Learning Communities
Elizabeth Weber
Issue date: 11/10/05 Section: News
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By Liz Weber
The TARTAN
When hearing the motto, "Double your pleasure", what comes to mind? Does college coursework? If so, then the Learning Communities program at McHenry County College can fulfill that motto. Although not new to MCC, the Learning Communities program hopes to garner more student interest in order to be a regular staple at the college.
Learning Communities is two classes with two separate subject matters that are combined to integrate them into one. The idea is to break down barriers between the different subject matters so that students participating in the program can learn in a different environment and learn subjects from a different angle and viewpoint.
Ted Hazelgrove, an English Instructor at MCC, talks about how the program gives students a new learning perspective, saying, "In Learning Communities we don't teach classes in a vacuum. Bridges and conduits can be established between different disciplines."
To offer more variety and cater to different preferences, Learning Communities is separated into two models. The integrated model is concurrently taught with both instructors present during class. Course objectives and subject matters are blended so students gain more insight from both disciplines and learn multiple perspectives.
The linked model still blends both courses, but the classes are bit more separate from each other. The classes are not concurrently taught, but instructors keep in contact to make sure both are teaching similar units. Daily topics from one class are most likely incorporated into the other class.
Even though the program combines classes to bring new learning experiences to the college, they are still worth two class credits and will be two separate classes on a transcript. Both classes are transferable to other universities as well.
Many hesitant students may question whether the workload is heavier, but in fact, is no more or less than any other class.
The TARTAN
When hearing the motto, "Double your pleasure", what comes to mind? Does college coursework? If so, then the Learning Communities program at McHenry County College can fulfill that motto. Although not new to MCC, the Learning Communities program hopes to garner more student interest in order to be a regular staple at the college.
Learning Communities is two classes with two separate subject matters that are combined to integrate them into one. The idea is to break down barriers between the different subject matters so that students participating in the program can learn in a different environment and learn subjects from a different angle and viewpoint.
Ted Hazelgrove, an English Instructor at MCC, talks about how the program gives students a new learning perspective, saying, "In Learning Communities we don't teach classes in a vacuum. Bridges and conduits can be established between different disciplines."
To offer more variety and cater to different preferences, Learning Communities is separated into two models. The integrated model is concurrently taught with both instructors present during class. Course objectives and subject matters are blended so students gain more insight from both disciplines and learn multiple perspectives.
The linked model still blends both courses, but the classes are bit more separate from each other. The classes are not concurrently taught, but instructors keep in contact to make sure both are teaching similar units. Daily topics from one class are most likely incorporated into the other class.
Even though the program combines classes to bring new learning experiences to the college, they are still worth two class credits and will be two separate classes on a transcript. Both classes are transferable to other universities as well.
Many hesitant students may question whether the workload is heavier, but in fact, is no more or less than any other class.