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:

Each phase begins with a brief narrative centered in an Hawaiian classroom as they work in their Learning Circle and ends with teacher comments and a checklist. Printing the checklists provides a quick summary of each phase. If your Web browser shows background colors, the colors of the rainbow can help you keep track of your progress through the guide. Each chapter in the phase description has a different background color beginning with red and ending with purple. If you are reading more detailed information about a specific phase, there will be no color change. A different background color indicates a move across phases of Learning Circle interaction.

Learning Circle Phase Structure

In describing Learning Circles interaction, there are frequent links to different Learning Circles themes. These themes tie Learning Circle interaction to the curriculum. If you are familiar with Learning Circle structure, you might want to begin with the material for a specific Learning Circle theme. The themes contain very specific classroom suggestions. All themes have a white background and pages are marked by the following theme icons:

Learning Circle Themes

Computer Chronicles
Places and Perspectives
Society's Problems
Mind Works
Energy and the Environment
Global Issues

If you want to see a detailed table of contents of the guide, you can use the Learning Circle guide icon found at the bottom of most pages. I hope these navigation hints help you read through this guide. I welcome your comments.

Margaret Riel (mriel@us.iearn.org)

To Begin at the beginning

Written and coded by Margaret Riel, based on the AT&T Learning Circle Curriculum Guides developed for the AT&T Learning Network. Report all problems to

Margaret Riel (mriel@us.iearn.org).

Copyright © 1997, 2002, Margaret Riel