Playing I.T. Safe An RD103/CA106 Learning Community Eileen Cotter (Reading) Karen Penn de Martinez (Computer Applications)

Learning Community Goals Promoting Student Success: Course Completion/Retention Raising Awareness of College Resources Raising Awareness of College Expectations Improving Weak Study Skills Improving Computer Skills/Online Learning Skills Providing Professional Development for Faculty OTHER

A brief overview of learning communities Same cohort of students Paired courses (location, time) Instructor coordination – Minimum: common thematic course content – Maximum: team teaching, integrated course content Goal: increased student-student and student- faculty interaction, greater student engagement

A brief overview of Playing I.T. Safe Integration elements – ESL Reading (non-credit level) and Computer Applications introductory credit level course – Reading content on computer topics – Course website – contains assignments and materials for both classes – Classroom location and activities Same computer equipped classroom 40% of reading course time conducted online

Course website Available only to registered students – access from any online computer

Improving Study Skills Reading the textbook – Scaffolding – Outlining – Annotating – Reinforcing/spiraling these techniques Test preparation – Preparing notes – Study groups/exam bowl Summary writing

College “Cultural Awareness” College resource utilization: – Career and academic planning center/counselors – College website Graduation requirements Contact information for departments and professors Computer labs – Tutoring – Field trip

College “Cultural Awareness” College expectations (what professors expect) – Significance of the syllabus – etiquette Suitable name and subject line Attaching files – Office Hours Coupons for visits – Plagiarism Culture can’t be told once and learned: the course format permits us to reteach and reinforce these issues

Professional Development for Faculty Learn about each other’s subject areas Renew and reflect on our own content Exposed to each other’s teaching styles A sounding board to address teaching woes We are having fun!

Create your own learning community! With a neighbor, dream up a possible learning community with two courses you teach Examples – Daily Planet: Writing and Space - Astronomy and English – Love Under the Microscope: Sex, Gender, and Relationships - Biology and Psychology – Antigone to Antimatter - Drama and Physics – Vanishing Views: Art, Ecology and a Sustainable Campus - Art, Natural Science, and Literature – Across Time and Terrain: A Scientific and Historical Look at the Pacific Northwest - Environmental Science and History

To find out more or share ideas: Check out our promotional website: – Contact us – really! – Karen Penn de Martinez – Eileen Cotter