Dirk Uys@riskycud

@p2pu

Who has taken an online course before?

There are many providers...

...with big promises!

Anyone can learn anything, anywhere, for free.

Anyone can learn anything, anywhere, for free.

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

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

● Non-profit organization

● Started in 2009

● Distributed community of volunteers and

partners

Mission

To provide communities with access to education

opportunities.

● Online courses using OER

● Online platform for making & running

courses

● Open badges

● MOOCs

~7%

Photo from Flickr CC-BY-NC 2.0 Tom Woodward

DIGITAL DIVIDE

UNAWARE OF OPPORTUNITY

LACK OF SUPPORT

For many individuals, online learning is lonely, difficult, and overwhelming!

+

Learning circles

Lightly-facilitated study groups for learners who want to take online courses together at their local library.

+

● Not a content expert

● Comfortable with online course platform

● Invested in community

● Available to host each week and moderate

discussion

Facilitator

● 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

● 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

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

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

● Background information● Course selection tips● Space/supplies checklist● Software instructions● Promotion templates● Facilitation tips● Recipe cards● Learning circle application● Certificate

Facilitators handbook

Any questions?

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

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

“The Facilitators continually made me

feel comfortable. which I really

appreciated this, the informal atmosphere

was great!”

“[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.”

“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.”

Chicago

Nairobi/Nakuru

Boston/Portland/Providence

Paris

Paris

Making and Learning

DiscussionIf you were creating an online course and you knew it

would be used in a learning circle, what would you do

differently?

DiscussionHow can learning circles fit in with other existing

opportunities?

DiscussionHow can learning circles help you in your current work

with OER?

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

www.p2pu.org@p2puthepeople@p2pu.org

DIGITAL DIVIDE

UNAWARE OF OPPORTUNITY

LACK OF SUPPORT

FACILITATOR LIBRARIESPEER

LEARNING