A Summary of Research Findings of the Collaborative Learning Project. The Washington Center for the Improving the Quality of Undergraduate Education , has reported similar findings. Faculty members report that they find learning communities challenging and stimulating. It provides them an opportunity to look at the curriculum in a different way. Further, it allows for collaboration with other faculty and fosters a sense of community, both among faculty and between faculty and students.
Students enjoy a sense of community.
They learn to think more critically, and are able to synthesize material from different disciplines. Students experience personal growth and achieve a greater appreciation for diversity, as they interact closely with other students and learn from them. Retention rates for students in learning communities has been found to be significantly higher than for those in traditional courses. The traditional course schedules, faculty loading, and lack of support from senior administrators appear to be the greatest barriers to learning communities. As the positive impact of learning communities continues to spread, it is expected that these will be minimized.