Other Learning Circle Models

Chicago Public Library and Peer to Peer University (P2PU) announce the next round of Learning Circles – face-to-face study groups for people who want to work together through online content. They are running Learning Circles in 12 branches of the Chicago Public Library. To find the closest search here. They have published an online learning circle Facilitator's Guide and their Handbook for Running Learning Circles. Their model is to provide a community learning experience around the participation in online openly available courses. Here is a list of courses that used the learning circle model.

The Bonner Foundation is committed to improving the lives of individuals and communities by helping meet the basic needs of nutrition and education. In the past, they supported community-based learning circles. They developed some materials to support the formation of learning circles to develop new practices or action plans to use in schools, communities, and organizations.

This is their Train the Trainer Guide for community-based learning circles for adults.

The University of Utah and North Michigan University (NMU) offer learning circles to university faculty as a way of increasing knowledge and skills about diverse topics. At both of these universities, Learning Circles are designed as an informal mechanism to draw together faculty and other instructional staff who have an interest in a particular topic related to higher education to build knowledge and support professional development. The idea is to gather people interested in the same topic together, especially if they come from different areas or disciplines. Learning circles are communities of faculty who meet monthly to explore research related to teaching and learning.

Explore how learning circles are used at these universities:

University of Utah

North Michigan University

In Canada, the Urban Aboriginal Economic Development Networks Network initiates Learning Circles to encourages the continuation of the dialogue around challenges in service delivery, housing, education and health of the urban Aboriginal community. Their model is very similar to the model described here with the difference that most of their meetings appear to be in person. They have arranged a number of regional learning circles as well as learning circles around topics.

For more information on how they used learning circles read Learning circles: What is their potential in Aboriginal community economic development? CDI Publications Series John McBride and Julia Good..

The Learning Circles of Lockhart River is a practical case study that highlights innovation in community change, action, and engagement, and in whole of government and community collaboration in a remote Indigenous community in Cape York, Queensland, Australia. This integrated engagement strategy uses multiple models of learning, engagement, leadership, and change and has resulted in improved economic, social, spiritual, and environmental outcomes for the community in a relatively short space of time.

The Learning Circles of Lockhart River — Building Productive Partnerships Hagan D A* Executive Director, Community Development, Office of the Director-General, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy (DATSIP), Queensland, Australia