Students in Vince Di Martino's engineering class learn skills outside
of the classroom as they volunteer at a Habitat for Humanity project.
Business instructor makes connections in engineering
(Oct. 3, 2001)--College of Business faculty member Vince Di Martino is building on his success in business to teach a freshman seminar course to engineering students in a learning community this semester.
Learning communities at UTSA group up to 25 students with common interests into a common curriculum plan. The group takes 2-3 courses together each semester. The freshman seminar is designed to help students new to UTSA develop academic and social connections to the UTSA community.
Di Martino, a lecturer in economics, is leading the young engineers through a seminar with a theme of “Connections.” The objective of the course is to help students develop critical thinking skills and learning strategies essential to college success. Students spend two days a week in the classroom and the third hour of the class consists of outside activities. Activities can include attending study skills workshops, visiting the library, watching a sporting event or attending a community cultural event.
Di Martino's students volunteered recently at a Habitat for Humanity construction project. The students helped clear brush and worked on framing a house during their outing.
"The learning community concept is wonderful," said Di Martino. "Most students enrolled in the program to receive more personal interaction from faculty members. The students are learning valuable skills that will help them graduate from UTSA."
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