Learning Communities
Increase Your Chances for Academic Success, Join a Learning Community
A learning community is a combination of courses linked together around a common topic or theme with assignments that cut across courses. A learning community is one educational model that serves to enhance teaching and learning. Instructors and counselors work together to design new ways to teach students in learning communities with ongoing collaboration and cross-instruction throughout the semester. This faculty “team” approach complements the educational experience in a way that connects learning across subjects.
Why does Delaware Technical Community College offer learning communities?
Studies across the nation have shown learning communities improve learning and student success. While that’s reason enough, students also say they get to know their classmates and instructors better, and they enjoy the classes more than “stand alone” courses. Research indicates students persist in college if the learning experience is meaningful, deeply engaging and relevant to their lives. By offering learning communities, Delaware Tech is demonstrating its commitment to creating a culture of student success.
You can:
- Make good friends
- Jump right into campus life
- Build supportive relationships with your peers and instructors
- Learn more, and have fun doing it
- Get better grades
- Fulfill your degree requirements
By registering for a Delaware Tech Learning Community!
View Learning Community photos.
Featured Learning Communities
Criminal Minds
- Courses: ENG 101, PSY 121
Description: Every year, millions of violent crimes are committed worldwide—committed by individuals who look just like you and me. So what is it that causes someone to cross the line and completely disregard human life, law, and reason? Search for answers with us as we seek to understand the criminal mind. Meets requirements for Human Services and Criminal Justice majors.
Location offered: Dover campus
Brewing Up a Business Career
- Courses: ENG 101, BUS 101
Description: This 6-credit learning community for first-year Business, Agribusiness, and Entrepreneurship students centers around Sam Calagione’s book Brewing Up a Business where he shares entrepreneurial advice and experiences. The community travels to
Dogfish Head Brewery and other local businesses for tours and attends a 1 Million Cups event on campus. After completing this learning community, students can take the second- tier learning community, Becoming a One-Minute Manager: ENG 102 & MGT 212.
Location offered: Georgetown campus
Engineering Technologists – Pump it Up!
- Courses: MET 115, SSC 100
Description: This 4-credit community is intended for first-year Mechanical Engineering Technology students. It integrates engineering ethics with basic mathematics as they apply to engineering technology concepts. Students learn to perform laboratory experiments and to gather and analyze data using EXCEL graphing techniques. First Year Seminar focuses on preparing students for successfully meeting requirements of the engineering technology course. Students enrolling in this community may conclude the semester with an exciting and practical field trip.
Location offered: Stanton campus
Stress Less
- Courses: EXS225, EXS230
Description: This 8-credit learning community is offered for students enrolled in the Exercise Science program. The courses include EXS225: Advanced Exercise Testing and EXS230: Health Fitness Instruction. In this learning community students learn techniques for assessing cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, body composition, muscular strength, and pulmonary capacity. Safety guidelines and precautions are emphasized. This community presents the information covered in the ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor certification examination as well as the scientific foundations of physical activity and fitness, nutrition, body composition, weight management, components of fitness, exercise prescription, and exercise programming.
Location offered: Wilmington campus
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.
Testimonials
"The learning community helps make connections with others. It takes away the fear that you are there alone because you know someone."
Vanessa Ortiz and Abigail Castaneda | "Think Before You Teach" learning community
"Both classes interacted with each other. In my English class we got to write about what we were learning in the agriculture class."
Kayla Meredith | "Planning an Agribusiness the Write Way and Adventures in Agriculture" learning community
"The learning community was interesting because we ran weather simulations on our computer model to determine ways the school could save on energy costs. The work we did is identical to what we could be doing in the real world as a career."
Jake Biggs | "Building Specialist" learning community
"The Learning Community was an amazing way to start my journey at Delaware Tech. It gave me the support I needed from other students and a sense of belonging. Now I encourage other students to look into a Learning Community."
Tearsha Morin | "Communication and the Path to Justice" learning community
"The Learning Community I was in combined English and Agricultural Business. The instructors would look at both the grammar and content of my reports. It made it easier for me to learn the material. I think there should be even more Learning Community courses available."
Loren Harmon | "Adventures in Agriculture" learning community
Campus-Specific Learning Communities Information
Contact Georgetown:
Amber King
Learning Communities Coordinator
amber.king@dtcc.edu
(302) 259-6058
Tammy Watkins
Learning Communities Coordinator
tkellywa@dtcc.edu
(302) 259-6459
Contact Dover:
Michelle Garey
Learning Communities Coordinator
michelle.garey@dtcc.edu
(302) 857-1221
Kim Austin
Learning Communities Coordinator
kaustin@dtcc.edu
(302) 857-1025
Contact Stanton:
Cecilia Hoopes
Learning Communities Coordinator
choopes@dtcc.edu
(302) 453-3790
Mary Anne Farrell
Learning Communities Coordinator
farrell@dtcc.edu
(302) 454-3941
Contact Wilmington:
Jerry Kavanagh
Learning Communities Coordinator
gkavanag@dtcc.edu
(302) 573-5495
Cara Stanard
Learning Communities Coordinator
cara.stanard@dtcc.edu
(302) 571-5339
Learning Community
