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confluence n: 1. a flowing together of two or more streams, a point at which streams combine, or a stream formed by their combining. 2. a meeting or gathering of two or more things, or the place where two or more things join
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The Confluence Model In our ongoing effort to broaden the impact of our learning communities program on our campus and to find additional curricular models for teaching that engage more students and faculty in integrative learning, we have explored new configurations that we group under the heading 'Confluence Model.' These configurations give a common focus to students in different courses through a shared class hour, a common theme or project, and/or a shared activity. They encourage integration by allowing students to see instructors from different disciplines interact, to experience different curricular perspectives with a common focus, and to work themselves with students in other classes. Instructors work together to create activities and assignments, to discuss student work, and to assess learning outcomes.
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The following confluence model learning communities have been designed and implemented.
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The Tragedy of the Commons Learning Community This transfer-level learning community was built around the 1968 Garrett Hardin essay "The Tragedy of the Commons." In the essay, Hardin presents a compelling argument that freedom in the commons, with respect to population, will lead, inevitably, to the ruin of the commons. Seven courses participated in the learning community: two transfer level English courses, two Critical Thinking courses, and courses from Mathematics, Philosophy, and Sociology. We met together as a large group five times during the semester to talk, from our differing perspectives, about the issues raised in "The Tragedy of the Commons." The Tragedy of the Commons Learning Community was offered for the first time in Spring, 2006. We plan to offer it again in Spring, 2007, with the addition of a Biology course.
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Philosophy and Psychology in Contemporary Films Students from Introductory Philosophy and Psychology courses meet together four times during the semester on Friday evenings to view films, followed by a discussion examining various issues addressed in the films. This was our original confluence model learning community. This learning community has been offered every semester since Fall, 2004.
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The next two learning communities are in the planning stages.
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Creating a Monograph: A Visual Arts Learning Community This fine arts/applied arts learning community will include students from four classes: Intermediate Digital Imaging, Publication Design, Digital Prepress, and Multimedia Internship. The students in these classes will work together to produce a monograph of the work of the students, and a web version of this book. The plan is to offer this learning community for the first time in Spring, 2007.
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What the Fork? The Many Facets of Food We have held preliminary discussions about a new developmental-level learning community which address the topic of food, building on the ideas of Michael Pollan. Although no firm decisions have been made, we expect to include developmental English and Mathematics courses, along with courses from Philosophy, Sociology, and Biology. We will spend next year designing the learning community, with a target date for implementation of Fall, 2007.
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