Initiative Design

The Innovation Collaborative harnesses the creativity of community college teams by scaling learning communities for institutional impact. Initial faculty pair courses together using an integrated, project-based curriculum to create a learning community of students, while increasing support to faculty peers through the creation of their own professional learning community. During start-up training, participants receive intensive instruction on the GtCNN Principles of Teaching and Learning, including integrative curriculum design techniques, active-learning teaching methods, and solution focused student support strategies. GtCNN provides each college with a coach to support teams in the implementation and refinement of their learning community designs.

During a scaling phase, initial faculty will recruit 4-6 additional colleagues within their institution. This larger (scaled-up) team will reassemble with the other college teams for a capstone training. The original faculty will share their designs with other teams while learning the skills needed to coach and support their faculty peers. Initial and new faculty will return to their college intent on continuing and expanding the learning community structure. The initiative requires the participation of academic and student services leaders in order to assist faculty, foster communication between college departments, weave in wrap-around student supports, ensure smooth operations, and plan for further scaling of learning communities within the institution.