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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Some time ago I promised to write something about
study circles. Here is a really short version of what it is and how to do one: I
know I also wrote something about it a few years ago which I believe happened to
be gathered into the OST non-guide. I have worked a lot with the Swedish study
organizations. We have 11 national study organizations (or they might be 12
right now), that are funded by the government to support people to learn in
study circles and also to experience culture, so everyone irrespective of
background, financial status or where they live could enjoy music, theatre,
art etc. They have a special focus on people with disabilities
and immigrants. </FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>Study circles –
the Swedish version<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>When a study
circle is created it is always based on people´s n need or wish to learn more.
The main focus for the study circle is the search for increased knowledge about
a certain area or topic. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>The basics of the
studycircle is that it is free to join or leave, that there are no such things
as tests or examination and that there is time for reflection between the
meetings. The usual here in Sweden is to meet once a week for 5-8 times, 2-3
hours each time. The group size is important so the discussion is easy to
participate in. The number of participants could be as little as 3 people but no
more than 12. 6-8 participants is a recommended number for getting enough energy
in the group and still making it easy for everyone to talk and listen. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>At the start of
the study circle, the participants create their own study plan together, based
on what each of them want to learn. They decide what material they want to use,
where they will search for more information, when and where they will meet and
who takes care of the coffee and snacks each time. The last thing is not least
important </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"
lang=EN-US><SPAN
style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings">J</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>. The coffee
break makes everyone a butterfly for a while and allows the sharing of other
things, which also contribute to the learning. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>The leader of the
studycircle is not a teacher, but one of the group that has a somewhat different
role. He or she facilitates the discussions and keeps the group together. The
leader has sometimes, but not always, more knowledge about the topic than the
participants. The leader should see to that everyone has the opportunity to talk
and is listened to and that the group follows the study plan or agree on changes
when necessary. The task to care for the room, coffee etc can be shared among
participants. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>I think the study
circle could be seen as one of the sessions in an OST, but with some reflection
time in between the discussions. The leader is a combination of the topic leader
and the facilitator. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"
lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri>Good
luck</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US></SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT
face=Calibri>Eiwor</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT
face=Calibri></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri><o:p>Gateway
Creation Tools<BR>a holistic approach to organizational
sucess</o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><FONT face=Calibri><o:p>+46 (0)70
2622946<BR><A
href="http://www.gatewayc.com">www.gatewayc.com</A><BR></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang=EN-US><o:p><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>