Study circle
Encyclopedia
A study circle is a small group of people who meet multiple times to discuss an issue. Study circles may be formed to discuss anything from politics to religion to hobbies
. They are differentiated from club
s by their focus on exploring an issue or topic rather than on activities or socializing.
There is no teacher
, but one member usually acts as facilitator
to keep discussion flowing and on track, and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to become as involved as he desires to be. Reading material and audio/visual aids are often used to stimulate dialogue.
Study circles may be introductory level, advanced level, or any level in between. Study circles may be sponsored or assisted by government
or community
officials and have specific outcome goals such as generating ideas or suggesting courses of action; or they may be entirely independent and self-sufficient, existing simply for the pleasure of increasing the knowledge of their members.
There is no one right way to do a study circle. The method is simple and suitable whether the discussion is for deeper understanding, for weighing options and making choices, for making recommendations that lead to action, or for academic study.
Study circles allow complex topics to be broken down into manageable parts. Single session
programs can result in meaningful and productive dialogue
, but study circles usually involve multiple sessions in order to fully investigate the question at hand. However, a study by Staffan Larson in 2001 concluded that while study circles foster participation they are only partly successful as civic change vehicles since their power to influence social action is weak.
education, where students "sat in a circle around their professor
", and the concept was later found in the medieval university
system in Europe.
The study circle concept later developed in early 20th century Sweden
as a part of the activities in popular movements, such as the temperance and the workers' movements. Since these movements' participants were working class or small farmers the study circles were important i relation to these classes' growing political power in the early 20th century. The issues that were studied were already from the early period broad - it could be as well political and social issues as literature or even school topics. The population as a whole were generally literate as early as the 17th century, and therefore literacy training was not an important concern as a topic for study circles. Other nonformal educations as folk high school
s and popular lectures were already present, when study circles were developed and there were various kinds of connections between these different forms of studies open for adults with only compulsory shooling as formal education.
Study circles arose with ambitions to create an educated citizenry.
In Sweden today study circles are a mass phenomenon and have broad national support. Around 300,000 study circles have been reported each year since the 1970s. National educational associations receive annual subsidies
from the national government
and work with folk high schools (folkhögskolor), university
short courses, correspondence study
and distance learning
, allowing citizens to understand and participate more fully in their communities and nation. The Swedish study circle model was successfully transplanted into American culture, most notably in the National Issues Forums
(sponsored by the Domestic Policy Association in Dayton, Ohio) and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
's Study Circle Program which began in 1986.
Today, with the growth of the internet
, virtual study circles are possible, but the original model of face-to-face communication
and real-world, rather than virtual, interaction retains its wide appeal.
Study circles are also being employed as a change process and development activity within corporation
s. Some of the same ideas and concepts of community study circles can be applied to internal issues such as diversity
, race relations and community-focused giving.
Study Circles have been used extensively in Australia for some years to engage citizens in issues as diverse as Reconciliation between Indigenous and Non- Indigenous Australians, and tackling environmental disasters like Blue-Green Algae in the nations river systems. Adult Learning Australia has championed the use of study circles for many years. More recently the Australian Study Circles Network has developed as a central resource for study circle practitioners in Australia.
Hobby
A hobby is a regular activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure, typically done during one's leisure time.- Etymology :A hobby horse is a wooden or wickerwork toy made to be ridden just like a real horse...
. They are differentiated from club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
s by their focus on exploring an issue or topic rather than on activities or socializing.
Study circle basics
Study circles are typically created by persons who discover a common interest; other study circles may be created to analyze and find solutions to social, political, or community problems.There is no teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, but one member usually acts as facilitator
Facilitator
A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve them without taking a particular position in the discussion...
to keep discussion flowing and on track, and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to become as involved as he desires to be. Reading material and audio/visual aids are often used to stimulate dialogue.
Study circles may be introductory level, advanced level, or any level in between. Study circles may be sponsored or assisted by government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
or community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
officials and have specific outcome goals such as generating ideas or suggesting courses of action; or they may be entirely independent and self-sufficient, existing simply for the pleasure of increasing the knowledge of their members.
There is no one right way to do a study circle. The method is simple and suitable whether the discussion is for deeper understanding, for weighing options and making choices, for making recommendations that lead to action, or for academic study.
Study circles allow complex topics to be broken down into manageable parts. Single session
Session
-Bureaucracy:*Executive session, a portion of the United States Senate's daily session*Legislative session*Session *Session , a governing body in Presbyterian polity*Court of Session, the supreme civil court of Scotland...
programs can result in meaningful and productive dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
, but study circles usually involve multiple sessions in order to fully investigate the question at hand. However, a study by Staffan Larson in 2001 concluded that while study circles foster participation they are only partly successful as civic change vehicles since their power to influence social action is weak.
History and evolution
The term 'academic circles' may have origins in the Madrasa system of Islamic legalSharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
education, where students "sat in a circle around their professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
", and the concept was later found in the medieval university
Medieval university
Medieval university is an institution of higher learning which was established during High Middle Ages period and is a corporation.The first institutions generally considered to be universities were established in Italy, France, and England in the late 11th and the 12th centuries for the study of...
system in Europe.
The study circle concept later developed in early 20th century Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
as a part of the activities in popular movements, such as the temperance and the workers' movements. Since these movements' participants were working class or small farmers the study circles were important i relation to these classes' growing political power in the early 20th century. The issues that were studied were already from the early period broad - it could be as well political and social issues as literature or even school topics. The population as a whole were generally literate as early as the 17th century, and therefore literacy training was not an important concern as a topic for study circles. Other nonformal educations as folk high school
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
s and popular lectures were already present, when study circles were developed and there were various kinds of connections between these different forms of studies open for adults with only compulsory shooling as formal education.
Study circles arose with ambitions to create an educated citizenry.
In Sweden today study circles are a mass phenomenon and have broad national support. Around 300,000 study circles have been reported each year since the 1970s. National educational associations receive annual subsidies
Subsidy
A subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
from the national government
Central government
A central government also known as a national government, union government and in federal states, the federal government, is the government at the level of the nation-state. The structure of central governments varies from institution to institution...
and work with folk high schools (folkhögskolor), university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
short courses, correspondence study
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
and distance learning
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
, allowing citizens to understand and participate more fully in their communities and nation. The Swedish study circle model was successfully transplanted into American culture, most notably in the National Issues Forums
National Issues Forums
National Issue Forums , is a US “non partisan, nationwide network of organizations and individuals who sponsor public forums and training institutions for public deliberation.” Everyday citizens get to deliberate on various issues through NIF forums. Some of the issues discussed include civil...
(sponsored by the Domestic Policy Association in Dayton, Ohio) and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsmen
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers is a labor union in the United States and Canada which represents bricklayers, pointers/cleaners/caulkers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters, terrazzo and mosaic workers...
's Study Circle Program which began in 1986.
Today, with the growth of the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, virtual study circles are possible, but the original model of face-to-face communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
and real-world, rather than virtual, interaction retains its wide appeal.
Study circles are also being employed as a change process and development activity within corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
s. Some of the same ideas and concepts of community study circles can be applied to internal issues such as diversity
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
, race relations and community-focused giving.
Study Circles have been used extensively in Australia for some years to engage citizens in issues as diverse as Reconciliation between Indigenous and Non- Indigenous Australians, and tackling environmental disasters like Blue-Green Algae in the nations river systems. Adult Learning Australia has championed the use of study circles for many years. More recently the Australian Study Circles Network has developed as a central resource for study circle practitioners in Australia.
Further reading
- Andrews, Cecile. "Study Circles: Schools for Life." available online
- Larsson, Staffan & Nordvall, Henrik. "Study Circles in Sweden: An Overview with a Bibliography of International Literature." Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2010. Available on Internet
- Oliver, Leonard P. Study Circles: Coming Together for Personal Growth and Social Change (Seven Locks Press, 1987)
- Velichko, Aliona. "Welcome to the World of Study Circles." html pdf