Langsdale Library, University of Baltimore

Learning Communities : A Bibliography

One of the major components of the University of Baltimore's First-Year Initiative (formerly known as the Lower Division Initiative), is the formation of learning communities, linked sets of courses which groups of first and second-year students will take together.

In order to help University of Baltimore students, staff, and faculty understand what learning communities are and how they work, Langsdale Library has put together this bibliography on the topic. If you have comments or suggestions for additional items, please send an email to Thomas Arendall-Salvetti at tarendall-salvetti@ubalt.edu.

Bloom, D., & Sommo, C. (2005). Building Learning Communities: Early Results from the Opening Doors Demonstration at Kingsborough Community College. MDRC. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED485506). Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the ERIC database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&an=ED485506

Browne, M., & Minnick, K. (2005). The Unnecessary Tension Between Learning Communities and Intellectual Growth. College Student Journal, 39(4), 775-783. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=19705217

Dabney, D., Green, L., & Topalli, V. (2006). Freshman Learning Communities in Criminology and Criminal Justice: An Effective Tool for Enhancing Student Recruitment and Learning Outcomes. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 17(1), 44-68. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from author’s website: http://chhs.gsu.edu/cj/docs/Topalli%20RCJE_A.pdf

Hotchkiss, J., Moore, R., & Melinda Pitts, M. (2005). Freshman Learning Communities, College Performance, and Retention. Working Paper Series (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta), 2005(22), 1-26. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=18809737

James, P., Bruch, P., & Jehangir, R. (2006). Ideas in Practice: Building Bridges in a Multicultural Learning Community. Journal of Developmental Education, 29(3), 10-18. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=20182432

Look to Midcareer Faculty for Learning Communities. (2006). Academic Leader 22 (4), 3. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=20289110

Moller, L., Huett, J., Holder, D., Young, J., Harvey, D., & Godshalk, V. (2005). Examining the Impact of Learning Communities on Motivation. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 6(2), 137-143. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=17913809

Muijs, D., Harris, A., Chapman, C., Stoll, L., & Russ, J. (2004). Improving Schools in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas - A Review of Research Evidence. School Effectiveness & School Improvement, 15(2), 149-175. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=13503648

National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience. (2002). Readings on the First-Year Experience. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina. Retrieved Monday, May 15, 2006 from http://www.sc.edu/fye/resources/fyr/bibliography.html.

Policy Center on the First Year of College. Retrieved May 15, 2006 from http://www.firstyear.org/

Price, D. (2005). Learning Communities and Student Success in Postsecondary Education. A Background Paper. MDRC. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED489439). Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the ERIC database.
Link 1 (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&an=ED489439
Link 2: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/31/3f/e0.pdf

Shapiro, N.S. & Levine, J.J. (1999). Creating Learning Communities: A Practical Guide to Winning Support, Organizing for Change and Implementing Programs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Available through inter-campus loan (through the USMAI card catalog) from Frostburg State University, Towson University, or UMCP McKeldin.

Smith, B.L., MacGregor, J., Matthews, R.S., and Gabelnick, F. (2004). Learning Communities: Reforming Undergraduate Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Available through inter-campus loan (through the USMAI card catalog) from Coppin State University and UMCP McKeldin.

Talburt, S., & Boyles, D. (2005). Reconsidering Learning Communities: Expanding the Discourse by Challenging the Discourse. JGE: The Journal of General Education, 54(3), 209-236. Retrieved Saturday, May 13, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier database.
Link (will only work on UB campus): http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&an=19827891

Tinto, V. (1998). Learning Communities: Building Gateways to Student Success. National Teaching and Learning Forum 7(4). Retrieved May 15, 2006 from http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/suppmat/74tinto.htm.

Washington Center for Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education. Retrieved May 15, 2006 from http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/home.asp#.

Don't forget to also check out Teaching Millennials: A Bibliography, brought to you by Langsdale Library.