During the Fall 2017 semester, Piedmont Community College (PCC) will offer students the opportunity to participate in a learning community course that combines College Transfer Success ( ACA 122 ) and Critical Thinking ( HUM 115 ).
Learning communities are meant to blend classes that complement and support each other to offer students a richer learning experience. They often pull together ideas from various subject areas, enabling students to tackle real-world issues with concepts learned in the classroom.
Innovative faculty designed activities and the ability for students to develop learning teams and progress together create an exciting educational experience.
PCC’s first Learning Community course is especially suited for those studying healthcare and others who are required to take Critical Thinking. In addition, students transferring to a 4-year UNC Institution can easily transfer the Critical Thinking course as a General Education: Humanities/Fine Arts credit under the current agreement between the North Carolina Community College System and UNC System.
Students who enroll in this new Learning Community can expect to:
• Develop strategies for thinking through the problems that impact time management, finances, health, etc.
• Think about how they develop strategies to learn more efficiently and deeply
• Examine how to handle argumentative and persuasive discussions with friends, politicians, or recruiters from colleges
• Discuss ethical issues associated with student life, such as the dynamics of group work, cheating, and plagiarism
The College Transfer Success ( ACA 122 ) and Critical Thinking ( HUM 115 ) Learning Community option, offered on Fridays, 9 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. as a 4-credit course, is taught by Dr. Joelle Carter and Dr. Darcy Wudel.
Dr. Joelle Davis Carter is the Dean of Student Development at PCC and is responsible for student service areas such as advising, financial aid, and disability services. She has extensive experience teaching First-Year Experience and transitional courses such as ACA 111 and ACA 122. In such courses, previous students have benefited from Dr. Carter’s engaging teaching methodology through activities including case studies and capstone projects. Carter looks forward to helping PCC students build their professional capacity through resume building and preparing for transfer to 4-year colleges.
Dr. Darcy Wudel teaches the sections of HUM 115 Critical Thinking offered at PCC. He received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Alberta and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Wudel has taught at Hampden-Sydney College, Averett University, Deep Springs College, and the American University of Iraq, Sulaimani. He lives just outside Roxboro with his wife Lora, along with two dogs and a cat.
Enrollment is limited. For further information contact Dr. Wudel at dewudel93@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2199 or Dr. Carter at Joelle.Carter@piedmontcc.edu or (336) 322-2159.
Registration will continue through July and August with classes beginning on Wednesday, August 16. The most up-to-date schedules are available online on PCC’s website at www.piedmontcc.edu/classschedule.
PCC will be open until 6:30 p.m. on July 26 and 27 to assist students with registration and financial aid. To register at other times, visit PCC’s Person or Caswell County Campuses on Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. or call (336) 599-1181 to arrange a time that is convenient for your schedule.
Photo: Dr. Darcy Wudel and Dr. Joelle Carter
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