Learning Circles Barry S. Kramer, Ph.D. iEARN Global Learning Circles Coordinator The Global Learning Circles Project Lessons Learned from 25 Years of Global Telecollaboration Web: Twitter: iEARNglobalLC

Global Learning Circles Objectives ➡ Introduction of Topic and Self ➡ What Are Global Learning Circles? ➡ History of Learning Circles ➡ Changes Over the Years ➡ Participants / Project Offerings ➡ The Learning Circles Model ➡ The Future of Learning Circles

Barry S. Kramer, Ph.D. ➡ 5 th grade teacher at Franklin Township School in Quakertown, New Jersey ➡ 32 years of classroom experience ➡ Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Technology from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (2009) ➡ Active participant in telecollaborative projects and Learning Circles since 1988

Global Learning Circles What Are Learning Circles? Cross-classroom Collaboration to promote student interaction, discussion, and project creation Group investigations within individual classrooms Group investigations across classrooms worldwide One of the best ways to learn something is to agree to teach it to someone else! One of the best ways to learn something is to agree to teach it to someone else!

Global Learning Circles The Learning Circle Model Learning Circle Partners (A Group of 6-8 Classes) Grade Level Compatibility Geographic Diversity Common Timeline Task Coordination Responsibility to the Group Individual Creativity

Global Learning Circles What 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

Global Learning Circles Why Do Teachers Join Learning Circles? 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 Learning Circles

Learning Circles A Brief History History of Learning Circles: Margaret Riel Inter-Cultural Learning Network AT&T Learning Network iEARN Learning Circles Barry Kramer 2004 – Coordinator 2010 – Global Learning Circles

Lessons Learned Through Experience Adaptability of the Learning Circles Model ➡ Mix of schools – domestic/international – need to include all level of users ➡ Online bulletin board/ – Use of Internet related communication ➡ Switch from paper projects to digital projects – changing curriculum needs of educators ➡ Introduction of Web 2.0 tools for collaboration – integration of new collaboration tools ➡ Move from projects within the iEARN Collaboration Centre to projects spread throughout the Web – student security

Global Learning Circles Use of Web 2.0 Tools Communication and Publishing Tools

Global Learning Circles Use of Web 2.0 Tools Group Wikis

Global Learning Circles Use of Web 2.0 Tools Project Blogs

Global Learning Circles Schedule 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

Global Learning Circles Projects Numbers Each Session: Projects 100 – 125 Classrooms students Most Common Formats: Websites, Wikis, Blogs Media Presentations, Pdfs Movies, Mp3

Global Learning Circles Themes

Global Learning Circles Examples of Learning Circle Projects Places and Perspectives Elementary 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 Mind Works Middle School Circle Stories Invention Convention Place Poetry Cultural Stories Predictions 2020 Environmental Projects Teen Tales Local History Timeline The View from My Window Global Issues High School 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

Global Learning Circles Sample 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

Global Learning Circles Phases 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

Global Learning Circles Opening the Circle Classroom Survey (Online) 1.About the Students 2.About the School 3.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 1.Who you are? 2.What you look like? 3.What you like to do? 4.Where you live?

Global Learning Circles Welcome Packs

Global Learning Circles Bulletin Boards Learning Circle Partners

Global Learning Circles Bulletin Boards Learning Circle Partners

Global Learning Circles Planning 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

Global Learning Circles Project 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 April 20, 2016):

Global Learning Circles Sample 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?

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, hero’s 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. Global Learning Circles My Hero: Authentic Performance Task

Global Learning Circles Exchanging 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

Global Learning Circles Publishing 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.

Global Learning Circles Sample Projects

Global Learning Circles Closing 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

Learning Circles How We Use the Model For iEARN Projects

Global Learning Circles Future: More Use of Online Collaboration Tools Google Skype Eluminate Increased Use of Multimedia and Video New Circle Themes More Learning Circles For Beginners

Global Learning Circles More Information - Barry S. Kramer iEARN Global Learning Circles Coordinator

Global Learning Circles Management 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

Global Learning Circles Support 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

Global Learning Circles Educational 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