Professional Connections through the Technology Learning Community

A learning community is a relatively old phenomenon that has resurfaced; it is making educators at institutions of higher education stand up and take notice. Grounded in collaborative and cooperative learning theories, learning communities have created environments in which student learning is the center of attention. The social construction of knowledge and skills can be best supported in a learning community environment in which students have been given the opportunity to engage in activities that encompass a diverse set of perspectives from multiple sources. The Technology Learning Community (TLC), currently located in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) at Iowa State University (ISU), is an example of a program that fosters this type of learning environment connection. Through weekly seminars and team-based activities, the TLC enables student participants to actively construct their own knowledge base through the development of professional networks and relationships with faculty, staff, students, and industry professionals. This article examines the impact that the TLC has had on the educational experience of new and transfer students to the Department.