Learning Circles

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• Learning Circles

The Global Learning Circles Project
Barry S. Kramer, Ph.D. iEARN Global Learning
Circles Coordinator Margaret Riel, Ph.D.
Creator of the Learning Circles Project
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Global Learning CirclesObjectives

• What Are Global Learning Circles?
• What Is the Schedule for Learning Circle?
• What Kind of Projects Are Found in Learning
  Circles?
• What Are the Educational Benefits of Learning
  Circles?
• How Do I Become a Participant?
• Teacher Testimonials
• What Is the Learning Circles Course?

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Learning CirclesA Brief History
History of Learning Circles Margaret
Riel 1987-88 - Inter-Cultural Learning
Network 1989-94 - ATT Learning Network
1994-03 - iEARN Learning Circles
Barry Kramer 2004-2013 - iEARN Global Learning
Circle Coordinator
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Global Learning CirclesThe Learning Circles Model
A Learning Circle is a model of distributed
leadership where classrooms in different
locations collaborate around a set of projects
related to a theme for a specified period of time
to gain deeper knowledge through collaborative
publications.
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Global Learning CirclesWhy Do Teachers Join
Learning Circles?

• Meaningful Work For Students
• Telecollaborative Project Work
• Authentic Audiences for Students
• Emphasis on Writing across the Curriculum
• Focus on Multi-Disciplinary Themes
• Project-based Learning
• Support for Collaborative Learning
• Connecting Learning to People, Places and
  Activities
• Understanding the Values and Perspectives of
  Different Groups

LearningCircles
LearningCircles
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Global Learning CirclesWhat Are Learning Circles?

• Cross-Classroom Collaboration To Create A Circle
  Publication
• Group Investigations within Classrooms
• Group Investigations across Classrooms

One of the best ways to learn something is
to agree to teach it to someone else!
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Global Learning CirclesWhat Are Teachers
Expecting?

• Teachers are looking for a global education
  experience for their students
• Teachers are looking for theme-based project work
  they can integrate with their classroom
  curriculum
• Teachers want students to develop important
  interpersonal skills by working with other
  students from around the world
• Teachers want to professionally learn through
  interactions with other teachers

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Global Learning CirclesSupport for Learning
Circles
Overview The Learning Circle Teacher Guide
provides a structural approach to promoting
cross-classroom collaboration with
telecommunications. The first chapter provides an
overview. If you want to understand this model of
online teaching and learning, it is a good place
to begin
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Global Learning CirclesThe Learning Circle Model

• Learning Circle Partners
• (A Group of 6-8 Classes)
• Grade Level Compatibility
• Geographic Diversity
• Common Timeline
• Task Coordination
• Responsibility to theGroup
• Individual Creativity
• Distributed leadership

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Global Learning CirclesSample Project Groups

• Places and Perspectives
• Sousse, Tunisia
• Kumasi, Ghana
• Zarka, Jordan
• Scarborough, Maine, United States
• Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
• Kocaeli, Turkey
• Slonim, Grodno, Belarus
• Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Tinghir, Ourazazte, Morocco
• Almetyevsk, Tatarstan, Russia
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Esigodini, Zimbabwe

• My Hero Learning Circles
• Batumi, Ajara, Georgia
• Thies, Senegal
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Trujillo, La Libertad, Peru
• Manah, Oman
• Kharkov, Ukraine
• Kocevje, Dolenjska, Slovenia
• Medgidia, Constanta, Romania
• Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
• Lynnwood, Washington, United States
• Taroudant, Souss Massa Draa, Morocco
• Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
• Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
• Baku, Azerbaijan
• Barrie, Ontario, Canada
• Mombasa, Coast Province, Kenya
• Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

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Global Learning CirclesManagement of Learning
Circles

• Management Options
• In general, Elementary Circles are teacher led
  and managed.
• The goal is for High School Circles to be student
  led and managed.
• Middle School Circles are usually a mixture of
  both management styles.

Elementary Circles Teacher Managed
High School Circles Student Managed
Middle School Circles Teacher and Student Managed
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Global Learning CirclesPhases of a Learning
Circle (16 Weeks)

1. Getting Ready for Learning Circles
2. Opening the Learning Circle
3. Planning the Learning Circle Projects
4. Exchanging Student Work on Learning Circle
   Projects
5. Organizing the Circle Publication
6. Closing the Learning Circle

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Global Learning CirclesOpening the Circle

• Classroom Survey (Online)
• About the Students
• About the School
• About the Community

• Welcome Packs (Postal Mail and Virtual Welcome
  Presentations)
• Send whatever fits in a large envelope (pictures,
  brochures, drawings, symbols, etc.) that will
  tell others
• Who you are?
• What you look like?
• What you like to do?
• Where you live?

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Global Learning CirclesWelcome Packs
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Global Learning CirclesBulletin Boards
Learning Circle Partners
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Global Learning CirclesBulletin Boards
Learning Circle Partners
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Global Learning CirclesThemes
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Global Learning CirclesPlanning Circle Projects

• Responsibility Commitment
• Each Class as a team organizes or "sponsors" a
  project for the group
• Every class is responsible to send at least one
  response to the projects in their Learning Circle

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Global Learning CirclesProject Idea Template

• Learning Circle Group Computer Chronicles
• Sponsoring Teacher Barry S. Kramer
• Sponsor School Franklin Township School
• City Quakertown
• Country USA
• Name of Project
• Goal Of The Project
• Type Of Writing Requested
• Description Of What You Are Looking For From
  Other Schools
• Example (Questions, Story Prompts)
• Detailed Instructions For Collecting Information
  
• Ideal Number Of Submissions From Each School
• Preferred Length Of Articles
• Deadline For Receiving Information (Circle
  deadline is November 20, 2012)

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Global Learning CirclesSample Project Idea

• Holidays and Celebrations
• In the United States we enjoy celebrating
  holidays throughout the year. For our project
  idea we would like to know about some of your
  holidays, celebrations, customs, and traditions.
• We would like you to choose one of the following
  topics and write a paragraph (or two) about the
  topic.
• Choose a holiday and describe to us how you
  celebrate the holiday.
• Is there a holiday that is unique to your
  country? Tell us about it.
• Tell us about some of your minor holidays and how
  they are celebrated. When do they occur? How
  did they start?
• Describe how your family celebrates a specific
  holiday. Do you have any family traditions that
  you practice every year?
• If you could create a new holiday, which holiday
  would you choose? When would it be celebrated?
  How would it be celebrated?
• If you could create a holiday that the entire
  world celebrated on one day, which holiday would
  you create? Why? When would it be celebrated?

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Global Learning CirclesMy Hero Authentic
Performance Task
The United Nations is starting a new museum
dedicated to honoring heroes throughout the world
in different areas such as angels, animals,
artists, business, community, earthkeepers,
explorers, faith, freedom, heros hero,
lifesavers, literary, peacemakers, poets,
scientists, sports, teachers, and writers. As a
noteworthy and admired citizen, you have been
asked to be on the nominating committee and have
been requested to personally nominate two people.
One person should be someone that you know
personally and other person should be someone who
you have not met personally, but admire because
of his/her accomplishments and public image.
From your two choices you are asked to narrow
your choice to one person and submit a convincing
argument for your choice in the form of a written
essay (that can include photographs), an original
illustration, or a short media clip.
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Global Learning CirclesExamples of Learning
Circle Projects
Places and Perspectives Elementary
Mind Works Middle School
Global Issues High School
Music and Traditions Peace and a Better
World Problems of Young People A Day at
School Weather and Seasons Early
Explorers Animals in My Backyard
Circle Stories Invention Convention Place
Poetry Cultural Stories Predictions
2020 Environmental Projects Teen Tales Local
History Timeline The View from My Window
Gender Issues Economic Issues Global
Education Ozone and the Environment Alternative
Energy Ideas City Life vs. Village Life Students
and Video Games Life in the Future Impact of ICT
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Global Learning CirclesExchanging Student Work

• Students...
• Research topics from other classes.
• Work with community resources.
• Learn to monitor goals on schedule.
• Develop strategies to encourage others to meet
  deadlines.
• Store retrieve information with technology

Picture by Heather Davis John Wayland Elementary
School
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Global Learning CirclesPublishing Projects -
Print and Web

• Students...
• Work with information, analyzing, comparing, and
  editing to create a final presentation.
• Use technical tools to create a final
  presentation.
• Accept responsibility for the work, making sure
  that all tasks are completed within a group
  timeline.

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Global Learning CirclesTypes of Projects

• Most Common Formats
• Word Document
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Pdf file
• Website
• Blog
• Wiki
• Video Quicktime, wmv
• Mp3

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Global Learning CirclesSample Projects
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Global Learning CirclesSample Projects
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Global Learning Circles Sample Projects
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Global Learning CirclesSample Projects
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Global Learning CirclesSample Projects
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Global Learning CirclesUse of Web 2.0 Tools
Group Wikis
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Global Learning CirclesUse of Web 2.0 Tools
Project Blogs
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Global Learning CirclesUse of Web 2.0 Tools
Communication and Publishing Tools
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Global Learning CirclesClosing the Circle

• What Have Students Accomplished?
• Locate and Evaluate Information
• Research Organize Ideas
• Creative Problem-Solving within a Team
• Understand Multiple Perspectives on Issues
• Develop Cooperative Learning Strategies
• Increase Self-Esteem and Confidence
• Accept Individual and Group Responsibility
• Use Technology Effectively

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Global Learning CirclesSchedule for Learning
Circles
Session 1 (September to January) Begins
September 30th and ends in mid-January (16 weeks
with a 2-week break in December). Learning
Circle Placement forms are due by September
15th Session 2 (January to May) Begins January
30th and ends in May (15 weeks with a 1-week
break in Spring). Learning Circle Placement
forms are by January 15th
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Global Learning CirclesEducational Benefits

• What Are the Benefits for Teachers?
• Enhances Student Learning
• Develops Reading/Writing Skills
• Enhances Teaching Curriculum
• Stimulates Teacher Creativity
• Expands Teaching and Learning Horizons
• Integrates Computer and
• Telecommunications Technology

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Global Learning CirclesFuture 2013-2014

• More Use of Online Collaboration Tools
• Skype
• Eluminate
• Increased Use of Multimedia
• and Video
• Expanded Use of
• iEARN Student Forums
• Identification of Core
• Curriculum Standards
• New Circle Themes

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Global Learning CirclesMisconceptions
Learning Circles are only as strong as the
commitment of the participants. We count on
participating teachers to be professional,
trustworthy, and honest. We also expect
educators who enroll to honer their commitment.

• We are not a social network
• Most of our student and teacher interaction is
  asynchronous
• We cannot guarantee that the other members of
  your Learning Circle will complete their
  commitment to the project
• We cannot make other schools communicate,
  participate, and interact

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Global Learning CirclesHow To Become a
Participant
To join iEARN Learning Circles, you must first be
a member of iEARN and complete an iEARN Learning
Circle placement form two weeks before the
beginning of the session. Once you complete the
placement form you will be placed in a circle for
the next session. http//media.iearn.org/coursere
glc
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Global Learning CirclesTeacher Testimonials
150 to 200 teachers participate in Learning
Circles each year. Some teachers participate for
one session, others participate for both sessions.
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Barry S. KrameriEARN Global Learning Circles
Coordinatorbskramer48_at_hotmail.com
Global Learning CirclesMore Information -
www.iearn.org/circles Online Learning Circles-
onlinelearningcircles.org