Date Approved

8-4-2016

Embargo Period

8-5-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. Higher Education

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Sisco, Burton R.

Keywords

Higher Education, Learning Communities, Math Learning Communities

Subject(s)

College freshmen; Mathematics--Study and teaching (Higher)

Disciplines

Higher Education | Science and Mathematics Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how participating in a mathematics learning community can impact a first-year students’ experience in college. The total population in the Math Learning Community (MLC) was 40, 36 of these members participated in a survey and five volunteered to participate in an interview. The survey collected demographic information and responses to statements regarding the students’ transition to college, their connectedness to Rowan, their peer interaction, faculty interaction, and their overall satisfaction at Rowan. The interview questions asked about their most and least satisfying aspects of participating in the MLC and what recommendations they had to help improve the MLC. Through data analysis findings suggested that participating in the MLC had some impact on their peer interaction, faculty interaction, their connectedness to Rowan, and overall satisfaction at Rowan. Through content analysis the responses from the interview showed that there were more satisfying compared to least satisfying aspects from participating in the MLC and with implementing their recommendations, the MLC can be very helpful to first-year students.

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