The principles that we see supporting learning communities are wholeness, respect, awareness and intention. They are the foundation pieces needed to establish a learning community. Wholeness means the balancing of head, heart and body with tasks and relationships in creating healthy environments. It is about integrating all the pieces of who we are. Wholeness is based on our personal and collective integrity, which comes from the life-affirming spirit at our core and connects us to ourselves and to each other.
Respect comes from a belief that individuals and groups are equally honorable.
When we create a stance of deep respect for all members, we create a place where our most authentic selves can be present. We tap the true genius within the individual and increase the power of the community. Awareness allows real change and growth to occur. We need to understand our assumptions, beliefs and feelings and how they either help or limit us in getting the results we want. Learning communities can be the spark to initiate self awareness by providing the environment and ways to surface assumptions and beliefs.