Introduction Getting Ready
Learning Circles Teachers' Guide
Open Circle Plan Projects Share Work Publish
Close Circle Overview
   

Learning Circle Timeline

iEARN

LEARNING CIRCLE PHASES (14 Week Schedule)


Prior to Week 1: Getting Ready

Teachers review the Learning Circles Teacher Guide try logging-on to iEARN sending an application. They introduce the concept of Learning Circles to their students.


Weeks 1-2: Opening the Circle

Learning Circle interaction begins. Classes log on and respond to the Electronic Roll Call. Each teacher sends an introductory message to the on-line Learning Circle conference. Teachers and students prepare and send their responses to the Classroom Survey.

Weeks 3-4: Planning the Learning Circle Projects

Teachers in the Learning Circle discuss the projects proposed in the Classroom Survey. Each class selects a section of the Mind Work Literary Magazine to sponsor. The class sends a message to the con- ference describing the information it would like to receive.


Weeks 5-10: Exchanging Student Work

Student work on different projects is collected and sent to the Learning Circle conference at least once or twice a week. Teachers and students continue to plan and share work related to the Learning Circle projects.


Weeks 11-13: Organizing the Circle Publication

Students evaluate, select, and edit the articles they received for their project. Teachers work with students in their classroom to layout and print their section of the Circle publication. Schools exchange project reports (electronically or via postal mail) and assemble their Circle publication.


Week 14: Closing the Circle

Teachers and students send their final good-bye messages to the conference and the Learning Circle closes.

NOTE: The December holidays and Christmas break falls at an opportune time for mailing sections to the schools with the final comments and goodbyes taking place when students return to school in Jan. Spring break and holidays in April serves as a good time for students to gather information from their local community for their exchange of student work.

 

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Margaret Riel, Copyright, 1987 Revised 2002.