Post on 09-Jan-2017
A Double Concept of Mentoring: Vertical Learning Communities at a Large Research UniversityMichele Rabkin & Maura Nolan
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Traditional goals of the research university
• Conduct research• Publish research• Produce new PhDs• …and educate undergraduates
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Changing context
• Public pressure to focus on undergraduate education• More diverse student body• Less prepared student body
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Liberal arts college model
• Small student population• Small class sizes• Intensive faculty-student interaction
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Research university challenges
• Large student population• Large class sizes• Faculty must balance teaching and research
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Learning community model• Intentional• Collaborative learning• Academic subject matter• Social interactions• Intellectually stimulating environment• Sense of belonging• Increased commitment
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Learning community types
• Curricular• Classroom• Residential• Student-type
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Participating in learning communities is uniformly and positively linked with student academic performance, engagement in educationally fruitful activities (such as academic integration, active and collaborative learning, and interaction with faculty members), gains associated with college attendance, and overall satisfaction with the college experience.
--Zhao & Kuh, 2004
Sample: 80,479 first-year and senior students randomly selected from 364 four-year colleges and universities and who completed the National Survey of Student Engagement in the spring of 2002.
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Liberal arts college model =Learning community model
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Berkeley Connect: a vertical learning community
Professors
Graduate Students
Undergraduates
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New learning community type
• Curricular not based on existing curriculum• Classroom not part of pre-existing course• Residential open to all students (residential and
commuter)• Student-type open to all students (not honors or
remedial)
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Learning community characteristics• Intentional • Collaborative learning • Academic subject matter • Social interactions• Intellectually stimulating environment• Sense of belonging• Increased commitment
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• Architecture• English• Environmental Science, Policy, and Management (ESPM)• Ethnic Studies & African American Studies• History• Math• Music• Philosophy• Physics• Sociology
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Berkeley Connect: a vertical learning community
Faculty Director
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Assistant Faculty Director
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Berkeley Connect program components:
1) One-on-one meetings
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Berkeley Connect program components:
2) Small-group meetings
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Berkeley Connect program components:
3) Special events
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Berkeley Connect program components:
4) Field trips
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Berkeley Connect: a vertical learning community
Faculty Director
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Graduate Fellow
20 undergraduates
20 undergraduates
Assistant Faculty Director
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Spring 2014 exit survey resultsDid Berkeley Connect have a positive influence on your undergraduate experience? 92% positive (78% yes, 14% maybe)
Would you recommend Berkeley Connect to a friend?92% positive (76% yes, 17% maybe)
Was participating in Berkeley Connect a worthwhile use of your time?91% positive (74% yes, 17% maybe)
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berkeleyconnect.berkeley.edu