There is little to no coordination between faculty teaching the FIG-involved courses, but the FIG seminar provides an opportunity for students to build connections in what they are learning. Another approach is federated learning communities. On many campuses, the faculty master learner facilitates a seminar to model good learning behavior and to help students build connections in their courses. The most complex model in terms of curricular reform and faculty roles are team-taught programs, commonly referred to as coordinated studies programs. Coordinated studies programs involve small cohorts of students and faculty from several disciplines in interdisciplinary teaching and learning.
Some programs require full-time faculty and student involvement.
Themes are faculty generated and interdisciplinary, they can be broad or liberal arts based, or emphasize skill development in related disciplines such as math and science. Regardless of the approach to learning communities adopted by a particular campus, successful learning communities share several characteristics. Learning communities organize faculty and students into smaller groups . Smaller, more intimate classroom environments help combat the isolation students typically feel from each other and their teachers. In smaller classes, teachers get to know their students and students find it easier to establish study groups with their peers.