Learning Circles:
Creating Conditions for
Professional Development

Teachers form Learning Circles by:
Building Community
Constructing Knowledge
Supporting Learners
Documenting Reflection
Assessing Expectations
Changing Cultures

Introductory Activity:  To become familiar with the precepts embedded in the six conditions, click on one of those listed above.  At each of the six sites, choose one of the precepts listed and give and example of your experiences with that precept that has supported your professional development.

Secondary Activity:  Explore the three links listed below.  Choose one of the three that you feel would support your teaching and learning and contact someone at the site with a request for membership, more information, or a suggestion.  Copy your message to: mcollay@prainbow.com.   Feel free to follow other links at your favorite search engine or links within these sites and choose a different site.

Learning Circles Teachers' Guide
Learning Circles Australia
Learning Circles: Virtual Communities for Elementary and Secondary Schools

Michelle Collay and George Gagnon are teacher educators and students of learning.  This book grew out of their work in classrooms with new and experienced teachers.  They continue to improve their own teaching and to support the development of learning communities in schools and higher education.  With Diane Dunlap and Walter Enloe they are co-authors of Learning circles: Creating conditions for professional development.  Please see the Website at Corwin Press, Thousand Oaks, CA for information about the book.  Enter "Learning Circles" in the "Search Products" box.