STEM Learning Communities: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Teaching and Learning

Introduction

“It is a critical national priority to develop, recruit, and retain talent in science and engineering to maintain U.S. economic competitiveness in the context of rapid globalization” (Hurtado, et al., 2011, p. 533). In response to the United States workforce needs in technology and science, Coastal University (CoU) developed a project promoting interdisciplinary learning through a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Learning Community (STEM LC). This learning community brings together students and faculty from different disciplines within STEM fields to work together on research projects and collaborate on various activities. The STEM LC is designed to improve the overall quality of STEM education at CoU by increasing the university’s efficiency in producing quality students. STEM LC is focusing on improving retention rates, increasing student learning and achievement, increasing faculty engagement and decreasing feelings of isolation that some STEM students may experience. In order to achieve these goals, STEM LC has created multidisciplinary partnerships with our STEM LC students, STEM graduate students, and STEM faculty. Members of our learning community establish relationships, participate in joint activities, and use shared resources to accomplish our goals. Student participants are expected to actively engage in program sponsored activities. Those activities include but are not limited to the following: monthly Town Hall meetings, Branch Activity meetings, program surveys, focus group discussions, and the completion of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). The objectives of this case are to 1) investigate the benefits of learning communities for STEM students, 2) identify the role of the stakeholders for successful STEM programs, and 3) investigate interdisciplinary learning strategies for faculty and students.