Gain the knowledge to create an active learning community at your school

Learning Communities: Impact on Retention and Academic Performance

Bringing students into an academic environment and keeping them engaged can be a key factor in how well they perform; how well they perform makes a big difference in whether they continue to be a part of your institution’s enrollment. One way to help both of those scenarios is through active learning communities, where students learn together and from one another.

This seminar highlights two years of research on the impact of learning communities on student retention and academic performance. The research involved 199 students and was conducted at Rhodes State College in Lima, Ohio (total campus enrollment of about 3,500 students). The seminar also explains the importance of instituting learning communities early on, preferably in the students’ first year.

Improved retention and improved grades are just two of the most visible, and measurable, benefits to instituting learning communities. By using this valuable concept on your campus, you’ll see more engaged faculty and increased collaboration across the curriculum, in addition to reinforcing general education requirements and the creation of “Classrooms without Walls.”

Knowledge benefits for you:

Understand how a learning community is defined
Gain the knowledge to create an active learning community at your own institution
Discuss why these communities are so successful at increasing student learning
Learn why these communities increase student retention rates
Understand the benefits and pitfalls of setting up new learning communities, and the opportunities they provide for faculty
Get your campus excited about incorporating learning communities, or learn how to make your existing program better

Who should attend: