Schools have forever been trying to increase student learning. High schools want their students to make it to college, colleges want students to stick it out for the full four years. Let's face it. In order for this to happen, we've got to start taking a deeper look at the students who don't make it and figure out why.
An article in USA Today poses the question: "If large numbers of students aren't making it through, it's a question of, is the program structure successful?" Bingo! This college is trying something new called "learning communities" which encourages students to make personal connections with other students who are working toward a common goal. In this case, it's passing math, a subject in which they struggle.
My first year at Valley City State University I was put in a learning community with other freshmen called "Learning to Live, Living to Learn." The common goal? To get through our first year. We discussed alcohol, grades, laptop computer problems, dorm life, etc. Basically every obstacle that came into the life of a first time college student. Did it work? I guess I don't know. I still keep in touch with some of my classmates via email and Christmas cards. Others, however, didn't even make it to second semester.
Most of the resources I've consulted have listed learning communities as something in higher education, not really at the high school level. I wonder if it would work at the high school level. Kids at the school where I teach often have "Math Parties" before a big test. This must be a type of learning community. Students banding together with a common goal. Our incoming freshmen class are grouped and assigned to a couple of older students in order to help them make the transition to high school. These are more social learning communities rather than academic ones. High schools are less likely than colleges to cluster or link students in such a community formally, but I think it would be a good idea to take a look at these groups. What are some ways we could incorporate academic learning communities into high schools to help improve academics?
What's the lesson here? I think the key is to realize that an emotional connection important in the learning process. Will a learning community work for every learner? I'm sure not. Is it worth a try to attempt to reach struggling students? Absolutely.
