Living Learning Communities

         

2

Living Learning Communities

Many colleges and universities are developing what they call living learning communities, in which students choose to live together as a group centered around a theme, which could be anything from Chinese culture to women in science. Some critics believe that such groupings are limiting because the students are not exposed to different viewpoints and interests. Others object because they believe segregation based on race, ethnicity, or religion does not contribute to the mission of higher education. In my opinion, living learning communities would not expose students to different viewpoints and interests, but I can see some positives with it. For me I feel that I will not choose to live in one when I go to college because it won't allow me to be exposed to different perspectives, and meet diverse people.
Living learning communities do not expose students to different viewpoints and interest. For one it is limited to a group of people who share the same viewpoint so they won't be exposed to things they are not used to. I feel that the mission of higher education is to expose the student's to different viewpoints with the higher academics, so they can get a better idea of the world. The positive side on these living learning communities is that it allows students to be comfortable being around other students with similar interests. This would suit new students going into college. They will be able to make friends, and get accustomed to the college campus. However, with all of this information I will not choose to live in a living learning community when I go to college. For one it does not allow me to meet diverse people with different viewpoints. I would like to broaden my understanding and meet new people. I understand the positives with the living learning communities but I feel that it is not for me.
In conclusion, living learning communities are groups of students who choose to live together that is centered around a theme. These living learning communities do not expose students to different viewpoints and interests. Even though it allows students to be more comfortable on college campus with other students who have the same interest, it does not broaden their view on different perspectives. Which I feel is an important part to someone's college experience. I choose not to live in one of these living learning communities when I go to college because it hinders my ability to meet diverse people with different viewpoints. It exposes me to the different interests. Overall, it is a choice that a student going into college should make for themselves.