•Exposed them to new ideas and challenged them to think critically.

•Helped them to make connections between their courses and academic disciplines.

•Encouraged them to speak with classmates out of class about the ideas in their courses.

•Assisted them in connecting their learning to their personal experiences.

•Helped them feel more confident.

•Provided opportunities to develop a network of friends and study partners.

•Provided an opportunity to interact with their instructor.

•Taught them teamwork.

Additional advantages designed to assist developmental students:

•Developmetal students can enroll in a zero-credit reading class and a designated general education class at the same time.

•Students receive extra support and guidance from a "master learner."

A Master Learner is a member of the faculty or counseling staff who attends all sessions of the general education class. The master learner then holds a weekly seminar that learning communities students are required to attend. During these seminars, the master learner assists students in forming study groups, improving study techniques, preparing for tests, and developing ideas for class papers.

"I like how Reading classes are connected to other classes; it makes it easier and you learn more."

"The Master Learner gives me the chance to learn more ways that are my style."

"Great, working with a Master Learner really helps me think more."

"I feel this is a wonderful opportunity that has been created. If our reading class didn’t tie in with the pluralism, I would probably be lost. This helped me personally a lot with the pluralism class to stay focused on the reading."

"I learned a lot about health because we didn’t only talk about it in health; we talked about it in reading and in the seminar."

Student comments about specific Learning Communities included:

"It taught me to take my classes and assignments more seriously."

"It helped me meet new people and talk to people I did not know."

"It gave me an insight that I can study hard and learn more."

"It gave me new ways to study by seeing how others studied. Also, if I missed something in class, I could get it from my classmates or the learning group."

"It felt more relaxed, and I could, without being self conscious, ask one of my classmates about something I did not understand."

"It gave us a chance to discuss our problems with the assignments, with our fellow classmates. That way we have more minds working to come up with solutions."

"I think being with the same people in each class of the learning community is very helpful. We can all study together and help each other for tests or homework."