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STC offers several new course pairs for fall 2006 to promote learning communities at all three campus locations

South Texas College is offering several new pairs of courses this fall to enhance its learning communities experience at all three campus locations. Learning communities combine two courses, such as history and government, to promote skills between the two subject areas. Instructors in both subject areas coordinate their lessons to ensure that students understand the material and are able to see the connections between the courses.

In the fall 2006 semester, STC will offer the following course pairings at specific campus locations:

Pecan Campus
  • "Business Principles" and "Business and Professional Speaking"
  • "Introduction to Speech Communications" and "Writing Skills III"
  • "Writing Skills I" and "Developmental Reading I"
  • "United States History I" and "American Government I"
  • "Writing Skills II" and "Drama Appreciation"
  • "Basic Mathematics" and "College Success"
  • "Writing Skills II" and "College Success"
  • "Developmental Reading II" and "College Success"
  • "Developmental Reading III" and "College Success"

    • Starr County Campus

  • "Basic Mathematics" and "College Success"

    • Mid-Valley Campus

  • "Basic Mathematics" and "College Success"
  • "Developmental Reading II" and "College Success"

    • Students who register for a Learning Community have the benefit of back-to-back classes.

    "Learning communities are an exceptionally valuable tool for helping students develop critical thinking skills across all subject areas," said Laura Nunn, Learning Community Program Coordinator for STC. "For example, students taking our 'Introduction to Speech' course paired with a 'Writing Skills III' course may be asked to pick a subject for a speech and write an essay about that subject for the other course. Alternatively, the instructors may decide to have the written speech graded as an essay prior to it being given. In our 'Business Principles' and 'Business and Professional Speaking' pairing, students may be asked to write a speech focusing on a particular topic discussed during their business course."

    "I took two learning communities last year. During the fall I took English composition with the first half of biology and during the spring semester, I took English rhetoric with the second half of biology. We had a blast! As a community service we participated in the Mission Chamber's Butterfly Festival. We all pitched in and had a great time," says a former STC student.

    "When students learn subjects in isolation, it's much more difficult to apply the knowledge across disciplines. With programs like Learning Communities, the students really get into it," added Nunn. "The instructors really enjoy themselves as well. It's an all around win-win situation for students and instructors alike."

    If you are interested in joining a learning community, contact the Learning Communities program office at 956-872-2567 or visit http://www.southtexascollege.edu/learningcommunities/.

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    Last Updated June 20, 2007