One-semester learning community programs with four components: linked courses and cohorts, faculty collaboration, integrated instructional practices, and student supports¶

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 mixed) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The intervention evaluated across the six trials was a one-semester learning community built from four components, with variation in emphasis and implementation across sites. The components are linked courses and student cohorts (groups of students enrolling together in two or more courses, often scheduled back-to-back), faculty collaboration (instructors of linked courses planning and running classes together), instructional practices emphasizing integrated instruction and active and collaborative learning such as group work and hands-on assignments, and student supports such as tutors, designated counselors, or supplemental instruction. At Kingsborough some learning communities did not include developmental education classes, while at the other colleges all did.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

Instructors of the linked courses collaborated to plan and run their classes
Teaching methods focused on integrated instruction, emphasizing the interconnections between the linked courses

Constraints¶

There was variation in the emphasis and implementation of the four components across programs

Target Learners¶

community college students in developmental English or math

Learning Goals¶

credits earned in the targeted subject
persistence
degree completion

Claims¶

Short-term impacts on targeted-subject credits varied by college, with Kingsborough's estimated impacts the largest [~W]

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

Mayer, A. K., Weiss, M. J., Visher, M. G., Sommo, C., Weissman, E., & Wathington, H. D., with Durkin, K., Fresques, H., & Teres, J. (2013). Mixed Results from Six Large Randomized Controlled Trials of Learning Communities in Community Colleges. SREE Spring 2013 Conference. https://www.sree.org

Page metadata

Field	Value
`type`	`design`
`id`	`learning-community-four-component-program`
`title`	`One-semester learning community programs with four components: linked courses and cohorts, faculty collaboration, integrated instructional practices, and student supports`
`description`	`The intervention evaluated across the six trials was a one-semester learning community built from four components, with variation in emphasis and implementation across sites.`
`status`	`review`
`generated`	by `process:settle-candidates` on `2026-11-02`
`trust`	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
`sources`	1 — `mayer-2013`

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