1. Learning Communities and Librarians at Arizona State University
Sheila J. Young
Engineering Librarian
Jennifer M. Duvernay
Coordinator of Instruction, Outreach and Marketing

2. “Father of Learning Communities” University of Wisconsin
Alexander Meiklejohn:
“Father of Learning Communities”
University of Wisconsin
( )
Experimental College
Alexander Meiklejohn
( )
Source: Meiklejohn The Experimental College. Available:

3. Learning Communities: Integration
Student learning communities are classes that are linked or clustered during an academic term, often around an interdisciplinary - transdisciplinary theme, and enroll a common cohort of students.
Source: Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education

4. Building Community Student Faculty Student Faculty
A variety of approaches are used to build student learning communities, all intended to restructure the students’ time, credit, and learning experiences to build community among students, between students and their teachers, and among faculty members and disciplines
Adapted from MacGregor, Matthews, Smith & Gabelnick,

5. Types of Learning Communities
Student Cohort/
Integrated Seminar
Linked Courses/
Course Clusters
Fully Integrated
Course of Study
Student Cohort: Small cohort of students enrolls in larger classes that faculty do not coordinate. Intellectual connections and community building take place in an integrative seminar
Linked Courses: Two or more courses, linked thematically or by content, that a cohort of students takes together. Faculty do plan the courses collaboratively
Fully Integrated: A team of faculty deliver course work that is embedded in an integrated program of study to a group of students.
Source: Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education

6. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Learning Communities

7. CLAS Learning Community Goals
Integration of Knowledge
Transition to College Level Learning
Connections Between and Among Students and Instructors
Curricular coherence: integration of ideas
Understanding issues that cross disciplinary boundaries
Promote active and collaborative learning
Explore and understand diverse perspectives
Source: Faculty Handbook

8. CLAS Learning Community Goals
Integration of Knowledge
Transition to College Level Learning
Connections Between and Among Students and Instructors
Information Literacy
Writing
Oral presentation skills
“Extra Time on Task”
Curricular coherence: integration of ideas
Understanding issues that cross disciplinary boundaries
Promote active and collaborative learning
Explore and understand diverse perspectives
Source: Faculty Handbook

9. Example Learning Community Themes
Human Disease and Society
War, Culture and Memory
Creating a Sustainable Environment for the Future
From Slavery to Hurricane Katrina (New Orleans)
Thinking Globally
Medicine, Science and Public Policy (Sophomore)

10. Instructional Teams Faculty Teaching Assistants Librarians
Peer Mentors
Tutors

11. Living / Learning Designated Space
Former learning community students as Resident Assistants
Classrooms

12. Librarian as Team Members
Participates in planning/development for community
Included as Instructor
Information Literacy Liaison

13. Human Disease and Society
Multiple instruction sessions
Active learning
Iterative process
Multiple contact methods (IM, , office)
Blackboard presence
Discussion board
Integrated seminar attendance
Attend student presentations
Research paper grading
Blackboard: Web page, handouts, RefWorks link

14. HDS: Information Literacy Learning Outcomes
Sources of Information
Activity: Popular/Scholarly Article Comparison
Information Evaluation
Activity: Worksheet
Information Ethics
Activity: Plagiarism Case Study
Activity: Citation Flash Cards

15. Librarian Impact
“Librarians have made such a large difference within the learning communities … they are able to link students to information and sources that they do not know about before … I know that whenever I am between a rock and a hard place, I can always find a helping hand within the library.”
- LC Student

16. Conclusion
Develop closer relationships with faculty, students, and other campus units
Promote information literacy skills and library resources
Contribute to learner centered initiatives
Campus units: Residence halls, Learning Resource Center/Tutors; Writing Program