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I'm in a photography and writing class, and there seems to be more cohesiveness than first meets the eye.

In front of the class of 25 are photography instructor Paul Wegner and writing-and-research-skills instructor Lisa DuRose, who are tag-teaming in a program called "The Observant Eye." Wegner is discussing the work and themes of photographer Sally Mann, about whom the students have seen a documentary and read an essay.

The duo's two-art class is part of an intriguing education model called "learning communities."

Students enroll in a collection of two or three required general education classes with similar themes. (In this case, it's Beginning Digital Photography, Writing and Research Skills, and On Course, an introduction to college.)

They follow each other trough the series of classes, so they should end up both bonding and seeing the interconnectivity of college subjects.

DuRose said the idea started taking off at the college around 2005, when Inver Hills offered 2-3 pairings of courses. Now Inver Hills has 12-15 learning communities each fall with names such as "Pre-Health Sciences / Pre-Nursing" (psychology and biology), "Read, Rock, and Roll" (Intro to Academic Writing, Reading College Texts, and the History of Rock and Roll), and "The Self in Society" (those writing and reading classes combined with a beginning sociology course).

The college also offers a few for returning adult students. 

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Alex Friedrich

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I’m in a photography and writing class, and there seems to be more cohesiveness than first meets the eye. In front of the class of 25 are photography instructor Paul Wegner and writing-and-research-skills instructor Lisa DuRose, who are tag-teaming in a program called “The Observant Eye.” Wegner is discussing the work and themes of photographer Sally…

One way Inver Hills students can get a sense of community and learn from it

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