Building learning communities

Building learning communities is important since people learn from teachers, materials, and from each other. Sometimes working together in a group is the main learning method. This is good since in the working life people need co-operation skills anyway. When conceptualizing thoughts and even preliminary ideas it is good to get feedback from others and redevelop their own thinking.

There are several methods of how to facilitate group bonding and contributing. One example is a dialogical method of learning. This has been developed into the systematical method by DIALE-project (see the website here). 



There are even very detailed methods teachers can use when facilitating learning in groups. These have been profoundly described on the webpage



Learning communities might face challenges when people come from different backgrounds, for example, different cultures. It is good to acknowledge the differences in cultures in order to understand each other's behavior, which might seem odd at first sight. Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede has done a pioneering job in finding different cross-cultural dimensions that separate different cultures quite accurately. More information can be found on webpage. There is also more information on his book. 

Learning communities are naturally not restricted to small study groups. The schools and universities work closely with each other, there is collaboration across different disciplines and schools work also closely with local enterprises. There are research projects, student practice in companies, and companies that can offer the know-how to schools in form of lectures, insights, and suggestions to content of teaching. There is also student exchange with international partners. See the figure below. 


Kommentit

  1. Hei Hanna!

    Oppimispäiväkirjasi on upea! Sinulla on paljon myös visuaalista osaamista ja olet niin hyvä kirjoittaja, että tätä on aina nautinto lukea.

    Onnea ja menestystä!

    trv. Orvokki J-P

    VastaaPoista

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