COD Offers New Learning Community Classes for Spring 2017

College of DuPage will be offering several new classes through its Learning Communities program starting in the spring term 2017. 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.

Learning communities for the spring 2017 term include:

Body Language: Combining the courses Biomedical Terminology and Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology, this learning community focuses on mastering the language of medicine while exploring the mechanics of the human body. For more information, please contact Nancy Feulner at feulner@cod.edu, (630) 942-2124 or John Myers at myersj146@cod.edu.

Breath, Body and Brain: Communicating Consciously: Combining the general education requirement Speech 1100 with the relaxation techniques of Hatha yoga, this learning community helps to reduce anxiety and manage fear related to public speaking. For more Information on this learning community, please contact Patricia Fiske at fiskep@cod.edu or Lauren Morgan at morgan@cod.edu, (630) 942-2007.

English Language Community: During this learning community, students from a variety of countries and cultures around the world work together to improve their English reading and writing skills, while learning about global cultures from each other. For more information, please contact Tia Greenfield at greenfie@cod.edu, (630) 942-2006 or Chris Miller at millerc@cod.edu, (630) 942-2823.

Physics of Politics: This highly interactive Honors learning community combines the study of Physics with an analysis of U.S. politics by examining a variety of topics such as traditional and alternative forms of energy, climate change, the use of nuclear power and power grids, that are based on physical concepts but which have caused intensive political debate. For more Information, please contact Tom Carter at cartert@cod.edu, (630) 942-3346 or Christian Goergen at goergen@cod.edu, (630) 942-2012.

Planetary Ethics: This seminar combines Environmental Biology with Environmental Ethics to explore how nature works, how things are interconnected and how theories and principles of ethics are applied to major areas of environmental concern. Both classes satisfy general education requirements and Environmental Biology satisfies the lab science requirement. For more Information, please contact Shamili Ajgaonkar at sandifor@cod.edu or Eva Maria Raepple raepple@cod.edu, (630) 942-3983.

Research as Narrative: This learning community examines the fundamental role of research and rhetoric within the world of knowledge creation, while exploring academic discourse, bias, credibility, objectivity and community writing in the digital world. For more information, please contact Tim Henningsen at henningsent@cod.edu, (630) 942-2276 or Jason Ertz at ertzja@cod.edu, (630) 942-2364.

Watercolors and Webcams: Using Digital Tools to Explore the Arts: During this learning community, students collaboratively explore the humanities using education-enhancing technology and tools such as blogging, project learning, reflective practice and video creation while building an online portfolio. For more information, please contact Julia DiLiberti at dilbert@cod.edu, (630) 942-2578 or Nancy O'Sullivan at osulliva@cod.edu, (630) 942-2364.

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