Laying the groundwork for academic success

EDGE uses learning communities to promote shared authority and acceptance of responsibility among group members for the group’s actions. The learning community’s underlying philosophy is to build consensus, identify common ground for action, and encourage cooperation among group members. We use structure and learning experiences to promote community and forge deeper connections among students, staff, and faculty.

Key components include:

• Student-centered discussions
• Student-led learning experiences
• Problem-based learning
• Critical-thinking approaches
• Collaborative projects
• Service and civic learning projects
• Co-curricular activities, both on and off campus
• Common goals, themes, and topics
• Community recognition

Research has shown that learning community practices increase student retention and academic achievement, foster student involvement and motivation, reduce the time students need to complete their degrees, and enhance student intellectual development. Participants in learning communities become more responsible for their own learning and develop the capacity for caring about the growth of others.