Two stratification courses, one at an elite private liberal arts college and another at a regional state university were joined through a listserve or computer mailing list . Students were required to participate in the “virtual salon.” The primary goal of the virtual salon was to increase the diversity of students discussing topics common in the courses. The virtual salon was successful in achieving this goal as well as making it a meaningful learning experience by creating passionate engagement in the material, the students shared knowledge, and a sense of community was created where students from diverse backgrounds felt comfortable expressing themselves.
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