Learning Communities
Learning communities are classes that are linked or clustered during an academic term, often around an interdisciplinary theme, and enroll a common cohort of students.
Benefits of Joining a Learning Community
You will experience two subjects as one, therefore, making your level of comprehension deeper. You will be able to create a deeper bond between classmates, making learning together easier, and increasing your sense of belonging to a community of learners.
Students who participate in learning communities develop lasting friendships and work closely with their classmates. The integrated courses let you experience two or more subjects as one, and you will see how knowledge is an interconnected web of understanding. Linked classes are offered at desirable times and are scheduled back to back, which will be helpful as you plan your schedule for the semester.
By taking a Learning Communities course, you'll be able to receive two credits for taking just one course. You can reach your goals quicker. For example, if you were to take the ENG 21/22 LC for one semester, the next semester you will be taking ENG 100! You save yourself one semester. There are other combinations where you could be taking an English course and a Religion course satisfying a WI requirement and a high level Social Science requirement. Please look at the upcoming Learning Communities and see which courses you will be interested in.
Important Information
- You follow normal registration procedures, meet the course prerequisites, and register for all classes in a learning community.
- You cannot withdraw from just one of the classes; you must withdraw from all linked classes.
- Separate grades are given for each class.
Learning communities vary each semester. Please check the Schedule of Classes (SOC) to determine what paired classes might be right for you. See the Related Links section.
Here are Fall 2008's exciting Learning Communities
| The Ultimate Reality Show: Reading, Writing, and Me | |
| 32411 ENG 22 Beginning Composition LC TR 8:00 AM-9:15 AM 08/25-12/19 KALIA 104 K. Chang |
32410 ENG 21 Developmental Reading LC TR 09:30 AM-10:45 AM 08/25-12/19 KALIA 104 D. Ida |
| Join fellow classmates to learn strategies to become a winner in the Ultimate Reality show. Find out more about yourself as you strengthen your reading, writing and study skills. The instructors are ready to help you through the challenges of this new experience. Don't miss out on this learning opportunity! Earn credit for both ENG 21 and ENG 22 in just one semester. | |
| Get What You Want: Making Your Point with Words and Numbers | |
| 33005 ENG 22 Beginning Composition LC TR 01:45 PM-03:00 PM 08/25-12/19 ILIAHI 210 L. Dooley |
33004 MATH 24 Elementary Algebra I LC TR 03:15 PM-04:30 PM 08/25-12/19 ILIAHI 210 M. Alexander |
| Join this learning community to discover the power of writing and mathematics. For additional information, please contact Leigh Dooley (ldooley@hawaii.edu, 734-9703) | |
| Time Traveling and Island Hopping: Connecting the Stories | |
| 33077 HIST 288 WI-H-Survey of Pac. Islands Hist WF 12:15-1:30 PM 08/25-12/19 OLONA 205 C. Higgins |
33264 ENG 272M WI-Lit of Hawaii, Oceania, & Asia WF 1:45 PM-3:00 PM 08/25-12/19 OLONA 205 S. Hershinow |
| Join this learning community and travel back in time to explore Pacific Island history and literature and some Asian influences. For additional information, please contact Shel Hershinow (shel@hawaii.edu, 734-9432) or Colette Higgins (chiggins@hawaii.edu, 734-9742). | |
| Word Up: College Writing Meets the Study of Language | |
| 33067 LING 102 WI-Intro to Study of Language TR 10:45 AM-12:00 PM 08/25-12/19 MOKIHA 101 S. Inouye |
32034 ESL 100 Expository Writing: Guided Appr TR 12:15 PM-01:30 PM 08/25-12/19 MOKIHA 101 S. Ford |
| For more information, contact Susan Inouye (inouye@hawaii.edu, 734-9708) or Shawn Ford (sford@hawaii.edu, 734-9327). | |
| Reading Hawaiian Culture | |
| 33002 3 ENG 21 Developmental Reading MW 08:00 AM-09:15 AM 08/25-12/19 KALIA 104 M. Hara |
33003 3 HWST 107 H-Hawai`i: Center of the Pacific MW 09:20 AM-10:35 AM 08/25-12/19 KALIA 104 T. Stone |
| Join this Learning Community to apply reading and study skills to an exploration of Hawaiian Culture. Contact Mavis Hara via e-mail (mavish@hawaii.edu) for more information. | |
For additional information about this Learning Community, please contact Susan Inouye (inouye@hawaii.edu, 734-9708) or Shawn Ford (sford@hawaii.edu, 734-9327).
Student Testimonial
"I felt as if this class [a learning community] was more than a place for learning. When I came to school I would look forward to coming, primarily because I felt so comfortable. Projects were a breeze because of the interest and support from fellow group members and instructors. If I had a choice I would join more of these learning communities. It is a better way of learning, and makes understanding the material more interesting. Interesting material is a lot easier to remember and a lot easier to place in everyday life. P.S. Classmates from these learning communities still remain close friends."
- Adina Kim
“I had a good time in the learning community...Two classes, back to back, one
grade is a blessing to a busy student.”
- Trever Duarte
"I like being in a learning community because the class is not that big
and you have two teachers helping you. I enjoy being in a learning
community, but it's just you have a lot of work to put into the class."
- Anonymous
"I like working with other people. You can learn a lot of vocabulary
words. Since there are two teachers, you can ask one of them to help
you with your homework."
- Anonymous
"The learning community has advantages because you are with the same
classmates. It's easy to ask questions and learning is more fun."
- Anonymous
Instructor Testimonial
I like teaching learning community for a number of reasons. First, I have the opportunity to get to know the students better. Since Ms. Ida and I sit in on each other's classes, we can observe how the students are progressing in each class and better help them improve their reading and writing skills. I also like the creative aspect of the learning community, which makes instruction more fun. We don't have to follow the time constraints of a regular class, perhaps spending more time on writing on one particular day. Ms. Ida and I often share ideas and suggestions on how to improve instruction and how to help students who are having difficulty.
- Kathy Chang
The best part of doing this LC for me has been becoming good friends with my partner, a colleague from another department and someone whom I might never have gotten to know so intimately and appreciate so greatly otherwise.
- Mark Lawhorn
