Wowsers!!! Experiences (Both Good and Bad) with a Learning Community between a 100-level Introduction to Business Class and 200-level Computers in Business Class

11-11:50 a.m.

Location: Pollock B

Type: Informative/panel Facilitated dialogue

Audience: Linked Courses, Coordinated Studies

Presenters: Kenneth Harris and Ranida Harris, Indiana University Southeast

This session will provide experiences and outcomes, both positive (the large majority) and negative, of a recent learning community between a 100-level Introduction to Business class and a 200-level Computers in Business class. This learning community took place at Indiana University Southeast (IUS) and started with 39 students (huge by IUS standards) who took the two classes back-to-back. There were challenges experiences with one class being more discussion based and the other being more technical as well as some issues with one being a 100-level class and the other being a 200-level class. Overall, the experience was highly positive for the instructors, students as evidenced by both formal feedback and attitudinal outcomes that were assessed, and the university - as students in the learning community had a high persistence and re-enrollment rate. Ideas for enhancement and expanding to other disciplines and institutions will be discussed.