September 30, 2008
Learning communities return for teacher education students
Over 75 incoming students participate in the new PT-2 experience
Curriculum and Instruction advisors Cheryl Lindholm and Marilyn Dillon discuss homework assignments with two students during the weekly PT-2 learning community orientation course. |
By
Laura Dillavou
After a four-year break, Iowa State University is reintroducing learning communities for incoming first-year teacher education students. “Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers,” or PT-2, is the latest initiative designed to make the most out of a student’s experience at Iowa State.
In the early 1990s, Al Campbell, director of academic advising in curriculum and instruction, was part of a team who introduced the Project Opportunity learning community to teacher education students. Groups of students in pre-service teaching programs formed cohorts, fostering strong academic and social relationships. The intensive field experience also gave students many hours teaching in the classroom, creating a rich learning environment and future job opportunities. Because of the time- and labor-intensive nature of Project Opportunity, revising the learning communities became crucial when the curriculum and instruction faculty and staff began to reevaluate the department’s long term goals and strategic plan. The last Project Opportunity cohort graduated in 2004. Since then, Campbell and his team have been working to create a similar experience for students.
This year, 77 elementary education students and three peer mentors will pilot the new PT-2 learning community. In the year-long learning community, students will take similar courses together including an orientation course meeting once a week, form study groups, participate in a service learning project and learn more about the campus environment from speakers. Overall, it’s a way to engage students and keep them on the right track of their major, said Campbell.
“We have a theme of resiliency and self-efficacy,” Campbell said. “We want to make sure these students learn the skills to survive, in terms of problem solving, making friends, utilizing peer mentors and building relationships. If we can help students do that, it will lead to more successful students – better grades, higher retention, and more involvement with campus activities.”
Learning communities at Iowa State have long been valued for their success and impact. In 2008, U.S. News cited Iowa State’s learning communities among its “Programs to Look For” for the seventh straight year. As part of the college’s strategic plan and the university’s new budget model, the PT-2 learning community aims to [help students] gain better understanding and relationships with department faculty and staff, the college, and the campus environment. Campbell said the key to creating stronger departments starts with students.
“I see this as developing a pedigree,” Campbell said. “In curriculum and instruction, we are currently evaluating the coherency within our programs. We are looking at the process of becoming an education major – we want to know what happens when students get to campus, when they enroll in classes, how their courses build unto one another, what takes place throughout the learning process, and from there, we will develop a narrative about the student to pre-service teacher experience. When the faculty creates that narrative, current and prospective students will be able to see the connections between classes, activities and their career goals. It will lead us to becoming a stronger and a more well-defined department. Through this process, we’re reaffirming our pedigree and it signifies to others what they can expect from ISU graduates.”
While students may have just started their learning community experience, planning and recruitment is well under way for 2009. Next fall, incoming first-year teacher education students will have the option of residing with others in the PT-2 learning community. Forty students will be eligible to live in their own wing of the Maple-Willow-Larch residence hall complex with two peer mentors who will also serve as resident advisors. Campbell said there have been many requests from students who want to live with same-major peers. The challenge then, he said, is further exposing them to students from other majors and creating a holistic university experience.
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction has an estimated 550 elementary education majors, 190 early childhood education majors (shared with the Department of Human Development and Family Studies) and 400 secondary education majors who take pedagogical courses. Campbell said Iowa State is one of a few universities or colleges in Iowa that offer learning communities to their students, making it a unique and rewarding experience for its students.
“There is a strong interest from other universities to tap into the success we’ve seen with learning communities,” Campbell said. “The data and research is out there that these programs that engage students early on lead to higher retention, graduation rates and overall student success. It’s something I hope we can continue to offer students for many years.”
Contacts:
Al Campbell, director of academic advising, curriculum and instruction, phone (515) 294-0671.
Laura Dillavou, College of Human Sciences, phone (515) 294-3689, email laurad@iastate.edu.
