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Welcome to Casper College Learning Communities
 Some History:
Learning Communities were officially established at Casper College in the Fall of 2006, following a pilot program during the Spring 2006, which paired ENGL 0600:90 Basic Writing I with Math 0900:90 Pre-Algebra Arithmetic. This initial Learning Community's success is owed to exceptionally dedicated and creative instructors Claudia Stewart and Jill Hughes; the proof of the success of this learning community is the fact that it is now in its fifth year!
Due in no small part to the efforts of the late Anne Rognstad--the original Director of Learning Communities—and her enthusiastic collaboration with faculty and departments across our campus, more learning community classes have followed. Two examples are the Learning Community with a Fire Science emphasis that combines ENGL 0610:90 English Writing II with MATH 0920:90 Elementary Algebra, and the learning community in which students focus on developing reading and writing skills, a combination of ENGL 0510:90 Fundamentals of Reading I and ENGL 0600:90 Basic Writing I.
Another innovative Learning Community is the perennially popular Yellowstone Experience, a learning community involving ENGL 2490:90 Nature Writing, BIOL 2490:90 Environmental Science, and PEAC 2490:90 Outdoor Education, taught by instructors Terry Rasmussen and Will Robinson. These are but a few Casper College learning communities that illustrate our belief that collaboration in learning and in teaching supports the College mission of student success as well as simultaneously reflecting Casper College values.
What Students Say:
Students report that participating in a Learning Communities course " has changed [their] lives… [because] the inner work … engaged in while discussing various readings and the week's journaling changed [them]…" as one noted about The Yellowstone Experience. In addition, learning communities, offer a "cohort" of students opportunities to attend varied classes as a unified group, which not only fosters academic collaboration and cooperation, but also frequently generates solid friendships. After taking a Learning Community course, students report that they have made "friends for life" while an instructor noted that "frank discussions, and honest writing are the norm rather than the exception" and that "…many students enjoy this learning experience and the sense of community so much that they return for a second or third year." Students develop peer connections which afford them mutual support, the opportunities to form study groups, and a comfortable system for contacting one another and their instructors.
What Instructors Say:
Instructors agree that their involvement in a learning community "offers them insights about other subjects and disciplines,…improves teaching…and engenders creative approaches ...and new perspectives." Instructors also note they appreciate the "sense of community" finding it to be a student motivator, as well as an appealing element for themselves. One of the most valuable aspects reported by several instructors is what they learn about colleagues' subject matter and creative teaching strategies. Learning communities prompt critical thinking, creativity, in-depth investigation, and still more questions! |
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 ENGL 0520:90 Fundamentals of Reading II /
MATH 0900:90 Pre-algebra Arithmetic:
Fire Science Emphasis. Students are required to enroll in both sections concurrently, however all majors may enroll providing they meet placement criteria for both classes. Instructors Jill Hughes and Claudia Stewart have collaborated on this early learning community, offering students a solid foundation for further study. Peer learning and collaborative learning are featured elements of this learning community.
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ENGL 0510:90 Fundamentals of Reading I /
ENGL 0600:90 Basic Writing I:
Instructors Darby Sawyer and Karen Moenkhaus collaborate in The design of this perennial learning community in which develops students' foundational reading and wring skills essential to their success. This cooperation allows for in-depth student learning due to cross-application of concepts and skills.
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What are "Learning Communities?" |
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Courses that are linked or clustered over the course of a semester, often with a focus on a common theme across different disciplines of study. |
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What are the benefits for students? |
• Active and collaborative learning
• Greater curricular coherence
• Understanding of cross-disciplinary issues
• Exploring and understanding diverse perspectives
• Improves student retention & progress toward degree
• Greater intellectual interaction between students, between students and faculty, and between faculty members
• Generates a sense of community, of belonging |
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What are the benefits for instructors? |
• Faculty professional development
• Opportunity to work with and learn from faculty from another discipline
• Improves student retention & progress toward degree
• Supports the college mission, values, and goals
• Greater intellectual interaction between students, between students and faculty, and between faculty members |
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How do these Linked or clustered courses work? |
The approaches used in learning communities can be as varied as the instructors and disciplines involved in those communities. Depending on the type of learning community, students may be required to enroll in two or more courses that make up one learning community. Other learning communities require that students register in at least one of the courses that make up the community, while working with their peers in all of the courses offered. Check the college course schedule for details for each learning community. |
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What are some examples of past learning communities? |
The Yellowstone Experience:
Students enroll in BIOL 2110:90 Yellowstone Field Study; ENGL 2055:90 Creative Writing in the Wild; and PEAC 2084:90 Outdoor Living skills (Summer Semester)
English instructor Terry Rasmussen and Biology instructor Will Robinson collaborated in creating this popular annual offering, Casper College's first and longest running learning community. Students spend a week in Yellowstone with instructors Rasmussen and Robinson in a hands-on, collaborative learning experience.
Artic Dreams Honors Program Learning Community:
Students enroll in ENGL 2006:90 Environmental Literature and SOC 2112:90 Environmental Sociology.
This learning community is co-taught by Dave Zoby and Chad Hanson. Students earn six hours of credit. Foundational assignments & classroom work was completed in Casper, then students traveled to Homer, Alaska for the on-site instruction and application of course concepts.
(Summer 2011 - View Gallery)
Art and Geography of Ireland:
Students enrolled in this travel course to study ART 2491: Art of Ireland and/or GEOG 2490:90 Geography of Ireland. Co-teachers Valerie Innella and Kathleen Thatcher guided students' discoveries of Celtic art, history, geography and culture.
(Summer 2011)
Art and Geography: Students enrolled in both ART 2490: 90 Field Sketchbook (3 credits) and GEOG 1010:90 Introduction to Physical Geography (4 credits).
This learning community – a creative collaboration designed by Instructors Nancy Madura and Melissa Connely – offered students deep learning experiences in which sketchbook development enhanced their understanding of physical geography, and vice versa.
(Summer 2009 - View Gallery) |
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What are the learning communities offered this semester? |
ENGL 0520:90 Fundamentals of Reading II / MATH 0900:90 Pre-algebra Arithmetic:
Fire Science Emphasis. Students are required to enroll in both sections concurrently, however all majors may enroll providing they meet placement criteria for both classes. Instructors Jill Hughes and Claudia Stewart have collaborated on this early learning community, offering students a solid foundation for further study. Peer learning and collaborative learning are featured elements of this learning community.
ENGL 0510 Fundamentals of Reading I / ENGL 0600:90 Basic Writing I:
Instructors Darby Sawyer and Karen Moenkhaus collaborate in the design of this perennial learning community in which develops students' foundational reading and wring skills essential to their success. This cooperation allows for in-depth student learning due to cross-application of concepts and skills. |
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What learning communities will be offered NEXT semester? |
NEW Learning Community for Spring 2012!
CO/M 2380:90 Cinema History
ENGL1020:90 Composition II: Writing about Film
Students will view, discuss, read about and write about significant films, examining the development of film as a narrative form from 1895 to the present. In addition, students will develop their understanding of their own writing style as they examine and practice various rhetorical techniques. The historical, cultural, technological and political influences on film will be the focus of the learning community, as well as the influence of film on society.
(Instructors Pete Van Houten, Ebba Stedillie and Dr. Joseph Campbell) |
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How can I find out more about learning communities? |
Contact:
Ebba Stedillie, Director of Learning Community Programs at Casper College
Krampert Theatre 146
307-268-2496
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 RESOURCES
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Minutes |
Ebba Stedillie
Director of Learning Community Programs at Casper College
Krampert Theatre 146
307-268-2496
Ebba Stedillie, a full time Casper College faculty member since 1990, initially taught ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020 Composition courses in the English Department before moving to the Communication Department, where she has spent the majority of her Casper College career.
:: Weblink for complete Bio, Courses and Personal information :: |
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Learning Communities Advisory Board Members |
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