Burton & Garran Hall has several informal and one formal learning communities. In its simplest form a learning community is a group of people who share a common interest collaborating to create an environment for learning. Within that learning community we have three major projects currently running, that is Video Tutoring, Speaker Series and the Research Project.

Our formal Learning Community is:

Languages & Culture

Project: Speaker Series

In 2008 we ran 'Language Tables' where interested residents came together to practice speaking in their second language and discuss cultural norms, music, debating and dance.

In 2009 we are successfully running a speaker series involving keynote speakers from the ANU who come to the Hall and address issues such as the Northern Territory Intervention.

These experiences usually start with drinks and food followed by a presentation on a topic of interest concluding the evening with questions and discussion amongst the audience.

Project: Undergraduate Research

This Learning Community is involved in researching the viability of undergraduate research in Universities.

The result will be high quality undergraduate research papers which will be published in an academic journal and should lead the way for a new program of undergraduate research at Burton & Garran Hall.

This research is undertaken under guidance from the Sub-Deans, Dean of Residents and links with Academics across the ANU.

Project : Video Tutoring

In an attempt to assist first year residents achieve their goals our Academic Scholars use video cameras to record methods of workings for courses like Statistics so students can visualise the process of formulating an answer. We feel that this form of tutoring will be very popular as it will be available on WebCT which is the web tool students use to access course content. 

Informally we have started:

In the future... Health & Wellbeing

This is an evolving Learning Community starting with a speaker from Sexual Health & Family Planning, ANU Health Centre, the Australian Institute of Sport and the John Curtin School of Medical Research.

The events are organised by our Academic Scholars in conjunction with the Sexuality Officers. This will encompass nutrition and cooking - especially important in a self catered Hall with the largest kitchen on campus.

In the future...Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Learning Community