Introduction to Learning Circles

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Introduction to Learning Circles
2
Global Teenager Learning Circles

• Learning Circle concept
• Learning Circle set-up
• Persons
• Themes
• Timeline
• Virtual Campus
• Examples

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Learning Circle Concept

• Virtual Classroom
• Co-operation in and between classes
• Students learn with and from other cultures
• Students learn to formulate questions, do
  research and evaluate
• Motivate critical thinking and analytical skills
  of students
• Commitment and responsibility to Learning Circle
  partners
• A Learning Circle is first of all a human network
• Using ICT as a mean for education, not as a goal

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Learning Circle set-up

• Duration 10 weeks
• 10 Classes in one Learning Circle
• Twice per year
• March 2003
• September 2003
• 14 Themes in English
• 2 Themes in French
• Email and On-line

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Learning Circle Themes

• The upcoming Learning Circle themes in English
•            Culture          Human Rights
•          Democracy          ICT in Society
•          Education          My Life
•          Environment          Safety
•          Globalisation          Sport
•          Health          Sustainable
  Development
•          HIV/Aids          Youth Employment
• The upcoming Learning Circle themes in French 
•          NTIC dans la société
•          Emploi Jeune

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Persons associated with Learning Circles

• 3000 Students
• 160 Classes and teachers
• 20 country-coordinators
• 2 facilitators
• Ebenezer Malcolm in Ghana
• Sithabile Urenje in Zimbabwe
• 2 project managers at IICD
• Nathan Ducastel
• Neeltje Blommestein

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Learning Circle Timeline

• Phase 1 Week 0 Getting ready
• Phase 2 Week 1 LC partners exchanging
  Teachers and Class Letters
• Teacher Chat
• Phase 3 Weeks 2-3 Each class sponsors one
  question
• Student chat 1
• Phase 4 Weeks 4-5-6 Classes all send
  responses
• Student chat 2
• Phase 5 Weeks 7-8-9 Students send a summary
  to LC
• Circle Publication
• Phase 6 Weeks 10 Closing the Learning
  Circle.
• Student chat 3

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Virtual Campus

• www.iicd.org/virtualcampus
• Classroom
• Emails on-line
• Teacher Lounge
• Teacher Guide
• Timeline and Appendix
• Library
• Certificates
• Resources
• Gallery pictures!
• Lunchroom chat

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Virtual Campus screen-dump
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Example of a Sponsored Question
Hi circle members, This is our first
question. In your country are there any products
being "dumped" on your local market? 1 What are
they and what has contributed to this? 2 How
can a consumers protect him/her self? Please
include in your answer - a. The short coming of
local industries. b. How consumers respond to
these foreign products consumer behaviour.
c. Problems arising such as unemployment,
imports exceeding exports deficit in the balance
of payments etc. N.B "Dumped" refers to cheap
imported products.
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Example question answer

• Question from school in Ghana
• State any aspect of your culture which is unique.
  What makes it unique?
• Answer from school in Uganda
• The giving of names is quite unique in a way that
  a ceremony is held in which two cocks each having
  been named are thrown onto a grass thatched roof.
  The first cock to fall off the roof will have its
  name given to the newborn. This unique aspect is
  practised in the central and eastern parts of our
  country.

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Questions?