IDENTIFYING THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CURRICULAR LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION: A DELPHI STUDY
Barbara
Jean Oertel, Ed.D.
May, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents .. i
List of Tables . iii
List of Figures . iv
Background of the Problem ...........................................................................3
Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................7
Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................8
Research Questions ........................................................................................9
Definition of Terms .........................................................................................9
Summary ......................................................................................................10
CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ..... 12
Historical Roots of Learning Communities in Higher Education ........................13
Conditions Leading to Widespread Development and
Implementation of Learning Communities ....................................................17
Learning Community Models ..........................................................................24
Benefits and Outcomes of Learning Communities .............................................31
Theories: What Makes Learning Communities Work? ......................................39
Key Features of Learning Communities ............................................................44
CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY ..... . 51
Introduction of Research Method .....................................................................51
Selection of Participants ...................................................................................57
Instrument Design and Implementation ..............................................................59
Data Analysis ...................................................................................................61
CHAPTER 4. DATA RESULTS AND ANALYSIS ....... . 63
Descriptive Data ...............................................................................................64
Analysis by Category ........................................................................................71
Analysis of Participant Comments ......................................................................87
Summary ..........................................................................................................92
CHAPTER 5. SUMMARY OF RESULTS ......... .. 95
Summary of Procedures .....................................................................................95
Summary of Findings ..........................................................................................96
Conclusions ......................................................................................................108
Implications .......................................................................................................111
Recommendations .............................................................................................113
REFERENCES ......... 114
APPENDICES ......... . 124
Appendix A: Institutional Review Board Exemption .................................................124
Appendix B: Letter to Participants ...........................................................................126
Appendix C: Survey 1 .............................................................................................128
Appendix D: Questionnaire 1 ...................................................................................130
Appendix E : Questionnaire 2 ...................................................................................137
Appendix F : Questionnaire 3 ...................................................................................143
Last updated 1/24/02
LIST OF TABLES
Table One: Summary of Contributing Studies and Reports, 1982-94 23
Table Two: Characteristics of Learning Communities 49
Table Three: Summary of Delphi Process 62
Table Four: Range in Questionnaire 1 67
Table Five: Range among Top 58 Items in Questionnaire 1 67
Table Six: Agreement Percentages for Top 58 Items 70
Table Seven: Results for Curricular Features 72
Table Eight: Results for Pedagogical Features 74
Table Nine: Results for Structural Features 79
Table Ten: Results for Environmental Features 83
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: LaGuardia Cluster Options 25
Figure 2: Texas A & M Corpus Christi FIGs 26
Figure 3: New Century College Coordinated Studies Curriculum 29
Figure 4: Essential Elements of Curricular Learning Communities 109
Figure 5: Categories of Essential Elements 110