Participants should receive it several days before the first meeting. People have different learning styles and while some participants can look the material over quickly and be ready to go, the more reflective types prefer to have all of the material to look at and think about for awhile before they are ready to talk about it. Be prepared Get set up in plenty of time. Arrange your circle with or without tables. Tables or desks are good if you have a lot of papers.
Some people are just more comfortable with a table to lean on, write on and place the coffee cup.
There is a theory that the circle should be free of obstructions to encourage more honest and open communication. Leave room for the facilitator or a helper to get up and move to the flip chart. Feedback You will want to know how the participants feel about the study circle and if they have suggestions for improvements. There are some sample evaluation forms in this package. The easier they are to fill out the more likely you are to get answers.