Learning Communities: An Instructional Team Approach

Abstract

The first year student experience on many campuses has a first-year seminar as its primary component. Learning communities can be structured around such a course. One model for integrating campus support for entering students is to have the first-year course taught by an instructional team, often with links to a disciplinary course. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis has defined team members as the following.faculty, academic advisor, librarian, and student mentor. Faculty also serve as instructors in the linked course. Student mentors lead supplemental instruction groups in the linked course.