Monday, July 8, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

LC 101 workshop: Introduction to learning communities
This interactive, self-reflective workshop will first explore commonly used configurations, essential components, and important considerations that make up successful learning communities. Participants will be invited to reflect on their ‘stake’ in their college’s LC program–on what their contributions are/could be to its success and how learning communities can or have enriched their work.

Handouts
PowerPoint
Best Practices Checklist
Introduction to Successful Learning Communities

Introduction to Using Evidence (NSSE, CCSSE, and other sources) for Improvement.
The 2018 release of Assessment that Matters, a report on assessment trends produced by the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA), found that institutions have increased their use of a mix of authentic measures of student learning, including rubrics and classroom-based performance assessments, and national survey results, to improve student learning at the course, program and institution levels. Yet, combining a variety of forms of evidence is challenging work. This session will introduce practical approaches and will provide real examples of using multiple forms of “direct” and “indirect” evidence, to initiate and inform improvements in undergraduate education. We’ll review the basics about NSSE and CCSSE, and how they relate to other evidence, practice interpreting and applying results, and then discuss common challenges and strategies for using results.

Handouts
PowerPoint
Reading Data Handout
Institutional Examples

Walking tour of the organic farm
Evergreen’s organic farm serves as a learning laboratory for small-scale sustainable agriculture. Twenty-four acres are dedicated to agricultural and ecological studies, with most activities focused on five acres, including a large production garden, orchard, poultry, sheep, composting facilities, lab space, and classrooms. Since a group of students first proposed the creation of an organic farm in 1971, students have been an integral part of its development.

The farmhouse, which includes classroom space as well as an apartment for a live-in student caretaker, was built in the late 1970’s as a student-initiated project, with students involved in design and construction. At least one academic program focused on agriculture is offered each year; in addition, the farm is often a focus for individual and group projects, and houses Evergreen’s community garden and Demeter’s permaculture garden.