The Learning Circle Teacher Guide provides a structural approach to promoting cross-classroom collaboration with telecommunications. The first chapter is a condensed version of the whole guide. If you want to understand this model of online teaching and learning, this first chapter is a good place to begin.

The Learning Circle Teacher Guide provides a structural approach to promoting cross-classroom collaboration with telecommunications. The first chapter is a condensed version of the whole guide. If you want to understand this model of online teaching and learning, this first chapter is a good place to begin.

Learning Circle Introduction

The Learning Circle Teacher's Guide is organized around the six phases of Circle interaction:

Getting Ready for Learning Circles
Opening the Learning Circle
Planning the Learning Circle Projects
Exchanging Student Work on Learning Circle Projects
Organizing the Circle Publication
Closing the Learning Circle

Computer Chronicles Learning Circles
The material in this section parallels the Teacher's Guide and presents suggestions or ideas that are specific to the Computer Chronicles Theme. This is an outline of the content in this section related to the different phases of Circle interaction. This file can be read from beginning to end to understand the Computer Chronicles theme. Or, using the "hypertext" links from the phase structure of Learning Circles, it is easy to move back and forth from the phase structure of a Learning Circle to these theme specific examples. At the end of each set of Computer Chronicles examples and ideas, there is a button to make it easy to return to the general description of the Learning Circle phase.

Introduction to Learning Circle--Computer Chronicles

Computer Chronicles Learning Circle
Educational Benefits of a Computer Chronicles Learning Circle
Learning Circle Task of a Computer Chronicles Learning Circle
Learning Circle Timeline

Phase 1: Getting Ready
Narrative: "Be Prepared" is a great motto!
Introduction
Learning Circle Interaction
Teacher Preparation
Student Preparation
Your Learning Circle Theme and Project
Managing Electronic Mail
Teacher Comments
Getting Ready Checklist

Introduction

Participation in a Learning Circle can be a very rewarding experience for both students and teachers.

For teachers, it provides a way to team-teach with many different teachers in a virtual classroom. Developing working relationships with teachers all over the globe enables teachers to develop a very strong sense of the field of teaching. This professional development is more current and dynamic than more traditional avenues of education.

For students, working in a collaborative setting with peers around the world gives them a wider perspectives on issues and a greater understanding of similarities and differences. The work with others can be a powerful mirror that will help them see who they are, where they live, and who they live with in new way.

Now is a great time to have a discussion about expectations and procedures so that you and your students will have a successful experience in their Learning Circles. At the beginning of each of the phase descriptions is a short narrative that describes the Learning Circle experience from the perspective of a single teacher in an Hawaiian classroom.

iEARN GLOBAL
LEARNING CIRCLES
WEBSITE

Learning Circles: Setting the Standard for Excellence in K-12 Student Telecollaborative Project Work Since 1987;
Proudly Part of the iEARN Network Since 1995

Learning Circles are highly interactive, project-based partnerships among a small number of schools located throughout the world. There are two sessions each year, September - January and January - May. 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.

MY HERO Learning Circle
by Wendy Jewell , The Schoolers

Subject Area: Art/Music, English/Language Arts, Social Science, Technology/Media Literacy

Grade Level: K-4, 5-8, 9-12

Overview/Purpose:

The MY HERO Project, in partnership with iEARN's Learning Circles, brings together students and teachers from diverse parts of the world to collaborate on the topic of heroism through writing, digital art and/or short films.

There are two sessions per school year, each lasting 4 months. These interactive sessions allow kids to discover not only who or what inspires them, but also who or what is a hero to someone halfway around the world. Over the 16-week session, circles, made up of between 6-9 classes from around the world, exchange class surveys, welcome packets and ideas about heroism over the Internet and through the mail. There are weekly missives from the MY HERO Learning Circle facilitator to keep everyone on track and working towards completion of their own hero stories, art or short films. When finished, everyone has a chance to share each other's work and share their thoughts about each other's heroes.

Resources

For more information about getting started in iEARN projects Click here.

Title: We Are Teenagers

Summary: Project allows young people to learn about popular fascinations of their peers and choose possible new hobbies for themselves.

Description: Everyone has their own individual interesting particularities. We have decided to create a website to help young people to learn about the most popular youth fascinations worldwide and about the possibilities for self-expression among young people.

Resources

For more information about getting started in iEARN projects Click here.

Title: My Identity, Your Identity

Summary: Students talk about their traditional celebrations and the famous monuments and landmarks in their countries.

Description:
Students are encouraged to explore and research the elements that form their identities. These elements include the traditions and the famous landmarks, which are part of their cultures and identities. Students talk about the traditional celebrations they have and how they celebrate them.

This lesson can be used in a unit on the Civil Rights Movement or as a part of a Character Education unit focusing on discrimination and stereotyping. It is a modified version of a lesson developed for an exhibition organized by the International Center for Photography in conjunction with the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibition features works drawn exclusively from the collections of the National Portrait Gallery .

This lesson is best used within an "identity" unit, or as a means to learn about your students at the beginning of the school year. Your students will be able to write autobiographical essays highlighting how their life experiences and the individuals in their lives have helped them develop into who they are today. This is taught via explicit modeling. Therefore, although a sample model essay is included, it is a good idea to write your own autobiographical essay to better connect with your students.

OBJECTIVE
Students will be able to create autobiographical essays.
Students will be able to use appropriate adjectives to describe themselves.
Students will be able to use a graphic organizer to plan their written pieces.
MATERIALS
"Who Am I" graphic organizer (PDF) for each student
Model "Who Am I" essay (PDF) for each student
Essay rubric (PDF) for each student
Exit slip (PDF) for each student
Transparency paper
Overhead projector