Reaching hard to reach students through student learning communities

Authors

  • Patrick Blessinger St. John's University - New York

Abstract

 

Because of the many hurdles and adjustments that students face during their first year at university, it is, typically, during this crucial time period that students decide to continue with their studies, transfer to another university or quit attending university altogether. Student learning communities attempt to mitigate those factors that may lead to student dissatisfaction and non-engagement. To this end, student learning communities attempt to improve student satisfaction and engagement, and concomitantly, to improve student retention and graduation rates.

Author Biography

Patrick Blessinger, St. John's University - New York

Dr. Patrick Blessinger is an adjunct professor of education at St. John's University in New York where teaches courses in education, leadership, and research methods. He is also a math and science educator with the New York State Education Department, and founder and chief research scientist at the International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association.

References

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Dunlop, L. & Pettitt, M. (2008) ‘Assessing student outcomes in learning communities: Two decades of study at community colleges.’ Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 15(2), 140-149.

Kovbasyuk, O. and Blessinger, P. (2013) ‘The nature and origins of meaning-centered education.’ In: Kovbasyuk, O. and Blessinger, P. (eds.) Meaning-centered education: International perspectives and explorations in higher education. New York: Routledge Publishing.

Lenning, O. T. and Ebbers, L. H. (1999) The powerful potential of learning communities: Improving education for the future. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report, 26(6), Washington, D.C.: The George Washington Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

Kuh, G. D., Kinzie, J., Schuh, J. H. and Whitt, E. J. (2010) Creating conditions that matter. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Mezirow, L. (2003) ‘Transformative learning as discourse.’ Journal of Transformative Education, 1(1), 58-63.

Zhao, C. and Kuh, G. D. (2004) ‘Adding value: Learning communities and student engagement.’ Research in Higher Education, 45(2), 115-138.

Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change cover

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Published

10/02/2017

How to Cite

Blessinger, P. (2017). Reaching hard to reach students through student learning communities. The Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change, 3(1), 259–261. Retrieved from https://journals.studentengagement.org.uk/index.php/studentchangeagents/article/view/684

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Peer Learning Communities

License

Copyright is held by the journal. The author has full permission to publish to their institutional repository. Articles are published under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence.