Vincent Tinto Ph.D. and Learning Communities “Retention is a community thing” Tinto, Ph.D. Presented By: Fredrick Butler Instructor: J. Baier. Ph.D. Course: EDHE 6520 Term: Summer I, 2001

Vincent Tinto Earned his Ph.D. in Sociology of Education from the University of Chicago in 1971 Noted as a Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University Current research focuses on the impact of Learning Communities on 1 st year higher education student’s academic achievement and retention rates

Insights Dr. Tinto suggests that there are several determinants of student learning that must be met to foster student success. Student abilities and skills High expectations of student performance Support ( academically and socially) and, Student involvement (e.g. time on task)

Proposed Solution: Learning Communities Learning Communities are supportive environments that foster active involvement and high levels of performance by allowing students to connect with faculty and other students in efforts of forming supportive peer interaction. This is best accomplished when faculty build common academic connections among courses or disciplines.

Examples of Learning Communities Linked Course Linked Course: communities in which students are enrolled in courses that have overlapping content. Interest Groups Interest Groups: communities in which students are assigned to a discussion group in addition to common courses.

Examples of Learning Communities Cluster-Learning Cluster-Learning: communities in which clusters of students take all of the same courses, one of which is a seminar course that helps make connections explicit Coordinated Study Coordinated Study: communities that offer longer courses that are co-taught by two or more instructors.

Additional Components to Theory Frequent assessments of learning Frequent feedback about learning Frequent feedback about teaching, and Emphasis on group activities and assignments that encourage out of class interactions

Closing Thoughts: Quotes from Dr. Tinto “An institution’s mission is what makes the education valuable”. “Students’ expectations must match reality, they must make connections with their teachers and their peers”. “Begin at the beginning and make sure everything you do early (New Student Orientation, Welcome Week, University 100) meets students needs and helps them become more connected to the university.”

Bibliography Butler, Darrell. Learning Communities 98/Apr1998A1.htm 98/Apr1998A1.htm Tinto, Vincent. Vincent Tinto Craig, Tom. Retention expert says focus on mission and values. retention.htmlhttp://sam.acu.edu/events/news/ retention.html National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment. tm