COD Offers New Learning Community Classes for Fall 2016

College of DuPage will be offering several new classes through its Learning Communities program starting in the fall term 2016. Learning communities are unique, innovative learning experiences that typically involve students enrolling as a cohort in two or more courses connected by a common theme.

According to Professor of English and Learning Community program Coordinator Dr. James Allen, learning communities provide a variety of benefits to students.

"In learning communities, students gain much greater opportunities to connect with their professors and fellow classmates," said Allen. "They also engage the topics of the course in a unique way, and in many cases may satisfy general education requirements while learning crucial skills for overall college success."

Open registration for fall begins Friday, April 22. Register online at myaccess.cod.edu.

New learning communities for the fall 2016 term include:

American Addict: The Complex World of Drugs and Drug Policy: During this learning community, students co-enroll in American Politics, College Success Skills, General Psychology, Introduction to Addictions and Introduction to Criminal Justice for an in-depth examination of the political, legal, psychological and behavioral effects of drugs, drug use and drug policy on American society, as well as the current legalization debate. For more Information on this learning community, please contact Andrea Polites at (630) 942-2103, politesa@cod.edu.

Anthropology for ELS Students: In this new opportunity for ELS students, participants co-enrolled in Anthropology 1100 and ELS 0443 will strengthen reading skills and earn credits toward general education requirements. The two participating professors will use only one textbook for both classes and work very closely to help students improve both their academic and language skills. For more information, please contact Alex Bolyanatz at (630) 942-2433, bolyanat@cod.edu or John Stasinopoulos at (630) 942-2013, stasinop@cod.edu.

Cruise the Caribbean: During this learning community, students co-enrolled in College Success Skills, General education Mathematics, Introduction to Oceanography and World Politics will have the opportunity to hone college success skills while making connections between fundamental concepts in world politics, oceanography and mathematics while exploring contemporary challenges facing the developing nations of the Caribbean in the face of depleted or limited natural resources and natural disasters. Through this learning community, students also satisfy general education requirements in mathematics, physical science, social and behavioral sciences and contemporary life skills. For more Information, please contact Diana Strode at (630) 942-2547, strodedi@cod.edu.

Decision 2016: This learning community combines English Composition 1101, Political Science 1101 and Speech 1100 to explore the processes of American government and the role of rhetoric by focusing on the issues of the 2016 presidential, congressional and local campaigns and elections. A service learning project and other out-of-class activities will also be required. For more Information, please contact James Allen, (630) 942-3421, allenj@cod.edu; Chris Goergen, (630) 942-2012, goergen@cod.edu, or Lauren Morgan, (630) 942-2007, morgan@cod.edu.

Exploring Culture: During this learning community, students co-enroll in College Success Skills, Cultural Anthropology, General Psychology and Introduction to Sociology to explore the concept of "culture" from different perspectives and learn to blend multiple perspectives. For more information, please contact Tia Greenfield at (630) 942-2006, greenfie@cod.edu.

Immigration in a Post 9/11 World: Combining College Success Skills, Introduction to Homeland Security, Introduction to Sociology, People and Cultures of the World and Western World Geography, this learning community examines the topic of immigration from the perspective of both migrant populations as well as the nations who receive them. Students explore the experience of adapting and contributing to life in a new society, while addressing the security challenges that immigration poses in a post-9/11 world. For more information, please contact Deanna Davisson at (630) 942-2995, davissond@cod.edu.

Introduction to the Arts and Information Literacy: Understanding the Human Experience Through the Critical Evaluation of Information: Combining Introduction to the Humanities: The Arts, and Research in the Information Age, this learning community examines how the arts have shaped the human experience while learning to find and critically evaluate information resources that shed light on an understanding of the arts. For more information, please contact Timothy Clifford at (630) 942-4263, clifford@cod.edu, or Kenneth Orenic at (630) 942-2338, orenick@cod.edu.

Nourish the Soul: Connecting through Words and Music: Combining English 1101 and Music Appreciation, this learning community challenges and informs students' understanding of music while fulfilling both English 1101 and Fine Arts general education requirements for both degree and transfer credit. For more information, please contact Larry Ward at (630) 942-4174, wardla@cod.edu, or Kristopher Kowal at (630) 942-4208, kowalk@cod.edu.

Seed, Soil and the Soul: A Critical Analysis of World Food Practices: This honors seminar combines Environmental Biology and Film as Literature to explore food as a key to understanding human cultures and human relationships with the environment. Learning methods include film viewing, class discussion, independent labs, field trips, reflective writing and service learning. For more information, please contact Deborah Adelman at (630) 942-3406, adelman@cod.edu, or Shamili Ajgaonkar at (630) 942-2123, sandifor@cod.edu.

Video Games and the Stories That Make Them: This learning community combines English Composition II and English 1820 to examine narrative elements of video games, including plot structure, character development, genre, style, narrative point-of-view, folklore and symbolism. For more information, please contact Jason Snart at (630) 942-2033, snartj@cod.edu, or Tim Henningsen at (630) 942-2276, henningsent@cod.edu.

Click here for more information about learning communities at College of DuPage, or contact James Allen at (630) 942-3421 or allenj@cod.edu.