Learning Circles
What is a Learning Circle?
A Learning Circle is a series of discussions, demonstrations, reports on readings and presentations through which the members of the Learning Circle share their knowledge and experience, learn new information and apply and test newly acquired skills.
It is a…
- Small informal group that meets to study a subject or body of knowledge of interest to its members;
- A way of structuring a series of small group meetings to draw on the knowledge and experience of a group of people
Learning Circle Opportunities and Benefits
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| Opportunities to: |
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Benefits: |
| Share experiences and insights |
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Meaningful results |
| Learn |
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Lessons Learned |
| Explore ideas |
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Inspiration & momentum: |
| Reduce isolation |
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Future program directions |
| Solve provlems |
Why use a Learning Circle?
- A Learning Circle makes learning more efficient since reports, demonstrations, and teaching experience are shared among the members of the circle.
- A Learning Circle gives essential feedback to learners from colleagues who are working on the same body of skills and information, and whose suggestions on techniques and resources are hence particularly valuable.
- A Learning Circle offers the opportunity to organize demonstrations, reinforcement activities, and workshops for which numbers of people are necessary.
How do Learning Circles work?
A group of people come together to examine an issue or body of knowledge in which they are interested. After some initial planning, the group sets up a series of meetings (normally 6 to ten) with a specific (set of) goal(s) that the members of the group wish to accomplish through the meetings.
Learning Circle Process
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| Sharing Knowledge |
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Stories and journeys |
| What have we learned? |
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Common threads |
| Issues and challenges |
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Future direction |
The Schedule of Learning Circle Meetings
The Learning Circle schedule is set by the group as a whole. It is created in the planning meeting and tells people when and where to come and what they should prepare.
A schedule should be set up for a period of at least 6 but not more than ten meetings. This allows participants to plan their time effectively, but does not lock the Learning Circle into a rigid plan for the seemingly indefinite future.
A schedule should be set up for a period of at least six but not more than ten meetings. This allows participants to plan their time effectively, but does not lock the Learning Circle into a rigid plan for the seemingly indefinite future.
Types of Learning Circle meetings
One way of looking at the learning circle process is to identify different types of meetings that take place in the life of a learning circle:
- The Planning Meeting (in which a schedule is set up (Dec. 8, 2004 – 8:00 a.m.)
- The Definition Session (in which a problem is defined for further exploration)
- The Study Meeting (in which a problem is explored in some depth)
- The Reinforcement or Booster Workshop (in which a number of participants come together to explore applications of learning from other Learning Circle meetings).
Most Learning Circle meetings are a combination of definition sessions and study meetings through discussion and the demonstration of skills. Planning, at least for the next Learning Circle meeting, is an essential part of every meeting.
Potential Roles in the Learning Circle Meeting
Ideally, all members participate in all meetings. Although they will rotate responsibilities from meeting to meeting, at any one meeting members will be identified to play the following five defined roles:
- Facilitator
- Recorder (assistant facilitator)
- Presenter (of a report)
- Participant
Facilitator:
The facilitator for a particular meeting has the responsibility of facilitating the meeting and keeping the discussion on track. In general, this means that the facilitator ensures that the agenda and the general meeting process are followed.
- The facilitator prepares the agenda (preferably in a form that can be distributed to participants/potential participants prior to the meeting and on a flipchart that can be posted in the meeting) in advance of the meeting.
- The facilitator does not chair the meeting, in that remarks are not addressed to the chair.
- The facilitator is there largely to see that the meeting stays on track, to remind people to stick to the agenda and to see that the basic requirements for the different parts of the meeting are met.
Recorder:
For most groups, the recorder is the person who is designated to become the facilitator at the next meeting. As a recorder, his or her responsibilities are to act as timekeeper and minute-taker. As a timekeeper, the recorder keeps track of the time and announces to the members of the Learning Circle if they fall more than ten minutes behind the times that have been established on the posted or agreed agenda.
- Any serious deviation from the established agenda should be the result of a conscious group decision, not an accident or failure to keep track of the time.
Presenter:
The role of the presenter is to prepare a 10 to 20-minute summary report or presentation to deliver to the Learning Circle meeting.
- Presenters are not asked to give a detailed paraphrasing of the material, or to analyze, critique, or review it, although they will have a chance to offer their reactions to the material during the time set aside for discussion.
- A presenter is asked to report, in outline or point form, a concise summary of the information. People ask the presenter to fill in certain details after the report, and he or she should be prepared to do this. The report itself should provide people with enough information, in a coherent form, to enable them to discuss the material intelligently and know where they need to know more.
- Normally, the presenter will prepare a point-form outline that can be handed out to support the presentation, and that later can be included as an attachment to the Minutes.
- Presenters should remember, as they are preparing their reports, that they are reading and reporting for all members of the Learning Circle.
8 Step Problem-Solving Process
- Introduce the members of the group or team and note their expectations of the meeting(s).
- Identify the Questions (normally in the form of a question) – How can we?
- Identify Facts and Feelings related to the question. (These are not edited by the group or the facilitator, all facts and feelings are O.K. and relevant)
- Identify Resources on hand.
- Identify Resources needed.
- Identify strategies to address the question. (Normally it is a good idea to check off “Facts and Feelings” to be sure everyone’s concerns are addressed).
- Assign responsibilities to carry out the strategies.
- Identify specific timelines or meeting times for evaluation.
Tips
- The ideal size for a learning circle is between 6 and twelve participants.
- A classroom is not the ideal setting for a learning circle – you will want to sit around a table.
- Have a flipchart or whiteboard in the room for notes and a common record of meetings.
Words of Wisdom
What I have learned riding my bicycle:
- Set your own pace.
- There will be flats.
- You can’t avoid all the bumps.
- Real hills and head winds are in the mind.
- If there’s something wrong with your bike, fix it.
- If you feel like Superman, you have a tail wind.
- If you want to get there faster, focus on how you’re riding.
Anonymous
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