Online learning, offline
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This document discusses learning circles, which are lightly-facilitated study groups that meet at libraries for learners taking online courses together. Learning circles aim to address issues like isolation, difficulty, and lack of support that some learners face. They provide a community for learners and are facilitated by volunteers. Libraries are seen as highly accessible spaces to host learning circles. The benefits identified include increased digital skills, peer learning, and community support that can help learners complete courses. Feedback from pilots was positive, with learners interested in taking more courses and facilitating.
![“[The best thing about my Learning Circle was] knowing that I
was not the only one out there with a dream of writing and
being able to share this with my fellow Learning Circle
members.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/p2pu-oeglobal2017-170314091233/85/Online-learning-offline-27-320.jpg)
![“I appreciate
[Chicago Public
Library’s]
commitment to
learning and
expanding tools of
the library. I feel
lucky to have the
opportunity to take
the class.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/p2pu-oeglobal2017-170314091233/85/Online-learning-offline-28-320.jpg)
Online learning, offline
- 2. Who has taken an online course before?
- 3. There are many providers...
- 5. Anyone can learn anything, anywhere, for free.
- 6. Anyone can learn anything, anywhere, for free.
- 7. Anyone with a friend or with sufficient digital/linguistic literacy (+ other literacies) and a good amount of motivation who also knows where to look can learn a lot of mostly Western oriented things that already exist, anywhere with connectivity, for free some sort of cost (in theory), but these people won’t actually know if they learned anything...but what is the point anyway? Mozfest 10/2016
- 8. Anyone with motivation with access to tools/internet (or other mechanisms) + digital/linguistic literacies and social support in a state that doesn’t block materials can learn some content (maybe not pedagogical lessons) in your language, anywhere that you can access the tools needs to access the materials, for free some cost of your time/transport/tools. Berkman Klein Center 11/2016
- 9. ● Non-profit organization ● Started in 2009 ● Distributed community of volunteers and partners
- 10. Mission To provide communities with access to education opportunities.
- 11. ● Online courses using OER ● Online platform for making & running courses ● Open badges ● MOOCs
- 12. ~7%
- 13. Photo from Flickr CC-BY-NC 2.0 Tom Woodward
- 14. DIGITAL DIVIDE UNAWARE OF OPPORTUNITY LACK OF SUPPORT For many individuals, online learning is lonely, difficult, and overwhelming!
- 15. + Learning circles Lightly-facilitated study groups for learners who want to take online courses together at their local library. +
- 16. ● Not a content expert ● Comfortable with online course platform ● Invested in community ● Available to host each week and moderate discussion Facilitator
- 17. ● Highly accessible space ● Consistent internet/power ● Mission of open access ● Strong links to diverse audiences ● Highly-skilled employees who work to disseminate knowledge for all Libraries
- 18. ● Everybody has expertise ● Sharing and connecting are often the best ways to learn ● Feedback is necessary in order to improve ● Recognition that tech is not neutral Peer learning
- 19. Weekly Structure Beforehand: ● Edit reminder ● Review materials ● Set up space Afterwards: ● Clean up ● Share weekly feedback During: ● Check-in ● Activity (recipe card) ● Coursework ● Plus/delta
- 20. Recipe cards ● Week One: Manage expectations ● Week Two: Help set goals ● Week Three: Give good feedback ● Week Four: Draw connections ● Week Five: Celebrate mistakes ● Week Six: Reflect on goals
- 21. ● Background information ● Course selection tips ● Space/supplies checklist ● Software instructions ● Promotion templates ● Facilitation tips ● Recipe cards ● Learning circle application ● Certificate Facilitators handbook
- 23. Any questions?
- 24. CPL 2015 pilot ● 65% first time online learners ● 45%-55% retention over 6-8 weeks ● 80% did work outside of Learning Circle ● 90% are interested in taking another ● 60% may want to facilitate in future
- 25. Reflection on pilot ● Increases digital skills and academic mindsets alongside course content ● Community can overcome bad courses ● Supports diverse learner pathways ● Successful when aligned with library mission
- 26. “The Facilitators continually made me feel comfortable. which I really appreciated this, the informal atmosphere was great!”
- 27. “[The best thing about my Learning Circle was] knowing that I was not the only one out there with a dream of writing and being able to share this with my fellow Learning Circle members.”
- 28. “I appreciate [Chicago Public Library’s] commitment to learning and expanding tools of the library. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to take the class.”
- 30. Chicago
- 31. Nairobi/Nakuru
- 34. Paris
- 36. Discussion If you were creating an online course and you knew it would be used in a learning circle, what would you do differently?
- 37. Discussion How can learning circles fit in with other existing opportunities?
- 38. Discussion How can learning circles help you in your current work with OER?
- 39. Get involved ● Facilitate a learning circle → www.p2pu.org ● Join our community → bit.ly/p2pucommunity ● Develop learning circle material → howto.p2pu.org ● Help us: ○ expand to new communities ○ publicize our work ○ looking for a freelance web designer
- 42. DIGITAL DIVIDE UNAWARE OF OPPORTUNITY LACK OF SUPPORT FACILITATOR LIBRARIES PEER LEARNING