A group of people is sitting around a table or in a lounge room. As one is speaking, someone else is jotting down notes, another is skimming through the readings, and a facilitator is coordinating the discussion, making sure that everyone has a say. This is a learning circle in discussion mode. Later, a member may prepare an agenda for a public meeting, interview or invite a guest speaker to visit the group, research an issue in the local library, or search the internet for more information on an issue. Learning circles are self-managed groups of 5 to 15 people who meet regularly to learn about an issue that is important to them.
Many groups choose to move from discussion and reflection to local community action.
Learning Circles Australia is a separate domain of the ALA website. It contains information on each of the Learning Circle Kits that ALA has been involved in developing, and how to get them, the history of Learning Circles, news, a discussion forum and so on. Adult Learners Week is an annual celebration that aims to promote the diversity of learning opportunities available to adults for work, personal development and community involvement. It will be held from the 3rd to the 9th of September 2000. During the Week, a plethora of local and national events are held.