Introduction to P2PU and learning circles
P2PU is a community of librarians, educators, community organizers and designers.
Together, we create and support free, social, learning experiences in our neighborhoods.
What is a learning circle?
4
Learners meet
in a public space
like a library
For two hours
a week for
6-8 weeks
To complete a free online course together
Learning circles are groups of people who learn something together.
Facilitators can choose from hundreds of free online courses that people have used in the past, or add a new course from anywhere around the web.
What can people learn?
Each learning circle meeting has four components:
First, there is a check-in to hear how everyone is doing, what they are working on today, and where they might need help.
The heart of the learning circle is working through course materials. This can be done individually, in small groups, or all together gathered around a single computer or projector.�
2. Coursework
P2PU creates group activities, each 15-20 minutes long, designed to support peer learning and bridge the gap between the online course and real life.
3. Activity
To close, everybody shares one thing that went well that day (“plus”), and one thing to change for the next week (“delta”) .�
4. Plus/Delta
Online learning, face to face
Choose a course
Delegate tasks to participants
What is expected of a facilitator?
Lead group discussion
Publicize learning circle
Set up the room each week
Foster curiosity and exploration
library of online courses at p2pu.org/courses
training videos, promotion templates, and other resources at p2pu.org/facilitate
learning circle creation tool
learning circle sign up page
learning circle insights report
discussion forum at community.p2pu.org
Learning circles began at Chicago Public Library in 2015...
...and is now a global community.
We’ve found that
LEARNING CIRCLES:
Lead to retention rates 10x higher than online courses alone
Increase people’s agency as self-guided learners
Increase people’s ability to set and achieve their own learning goals
Invigorate community- based learning in libraries and education centers
Create viable alternatives to formal education
Support digital inclusion for people new to online learning
We’ve found that learning circles
version 2.0
come say hi at p2pu.org
Athanasia (Miami), Sharon (Toronto), Alexis (Kansas City), and Kalela (Philadelphia) at P2PU’s 2018 Gathering in Kansas City.
Juliana (Nairobi), Kaltuma (Nairobi), and Purity (Nakuru) at a P2PU 2016 facilitator training workshop in Nakuru, Kenya.
Andrea (Chicago), Purity (Nakuru), Grif (Boston), and Chris (Seattle) running a workshop at the Next Library conference in Aarhus, Denmark in 2017.
Jordan (front-center), and her fiction writing learning circle at Boston Public Library.
Nico (Kingston, Canada) and Kate (Chicago) accepting an award for learning circles from Google Fiber in Dallas in 2017.
James (Chicago), was one of the first learning circle facilitators. Here he is with a library patron who finished a public speaking learning circle in 2015.
Shenita (back-right) was also one of the first learning circle facilitators in Chicago. Cristiane (front-right) was a PhD student at North Carolina State University who wrote her dissertation about P2PU. She participated in 6 learning circles!
Some of the Kenya facilitation crew: Ether, Raymond, Bethsheba, Kaltuma, Yusef, and Mary,
Who were those people I just saw?
Members of our network include: