small learning communities

The purpose of this study is to analyze of the challenges and solutions regarding conversion of Allameh Tabataba’i University student dormitories into small learning communities. This piece of research has been carried out by means of mixed research methods of exploration and development of tools both qualitatively and quantitatively. Respondents in the qualitative section include 25 faculty members, dormitory administrators and dormitory students who have been interviewed using the purposive sampling method and the snowball method. Moreover, in the quantitative phase, the statistical population consists of the 3150 students living in dormitories at Allameh Tabataba’i University out of whom 340 students were identified and studied using the stratified random sampling method. In order to collect the quantitative data, two researcher-developed questionnaires of challenges and solutions designed at the qualitative phase were applied the reliability of which were put at 87% and 96% respectively through calculation of the Cronbach’s alpha. Theoretical foundations, previous research as well as qualitative findings of this study indicate that the challenges of changing student dormitories into small learning communities and their corresponding solutions include four axes: a) structural and management, b) cultural and social, c) scientific-professional and d) intrapersonal. In the quantitative study, the results indicate that the respondents have confirmed all the challenges and solutions identified in the qualitative study based on the above topics. In addition, the results show that there is no significant difference between respondent's views on the challenges and solutions associated with the conversion of Allameh Tabataba’i University student dormitories to small learning communities by dormitory, gender and educational level.