To: Circlenews
From: mriel@iearn.edu (Margaret Riel)
Subject: ** CIRCLE NEWS 1 **
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Getting Ready for Learning Circle Interactions January 29, 1996
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...are about ready to spin into action. Are you ready?
Getting Ready...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the ways to get ready is to read the Learning Circle is to
read the teacher's guide. If you have access to the
W I D E W O R L D W E B
here is where you will find the guide:
http://www.att.com/education/lcguide/
It has a checklist for each Phase of the Learning Circle, ideas for
projects listed by theme and comments from past Learning Network Teachers.
There are new project ideas for Computer Chronicles. (Mind Work theme
materials are still under construction but will be finished soon.
Preparing your students.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now is a great time to explain what will be taking place in the
Learning Circle. Each group of students is responsible to make
the circle a great success. Now is a great time to talk about
eciprocal responsibility and working together on a shared task
with a deadline. It might help to post the timeline.
Testing your Circle Address
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your Circle conference is set up and ready to go.
===> Receiving Circle Messages:
Your ID account is subscribed to the Learning Circle so
that all mail sent to the Circle (for example this message)
will arrive as email on the email account listed in your
application.
===> Sending a message to everyone in the Circle:
All you need to do to send a message to your circle is address
the message
To: iearn-cce1@iearn.org (Replace cce1 with your circle name)
You should receive a copy of anything you send to the Circle.
Receiving a return copy of your sent message is your assurance
reached your Learning Circle Partners. If you do not receive
a copy, there was likely to have been a problem with the address.
Please let us know about it so that we can quickly address
any problems.
Where is the Circle Conference?
The messages are saved in a conference so if you ever lose one or
want to check to make sure you are receiving all messages, you can
check the conference listing. On I*EARN, you can find them by
selecting I*EARN conferences and at the "Conf?" prompt typing
the name of your circle, for example:
iearn.cce1 or iearn.mwh1
Then type (i) for an index of the Circle messages.
----------->>>>>> LOOK For the NEW LEARNING CIRCLE WEB SITE <<<<<------
Coming Soon...on I*EARN...
This web site will make easier to interact with the circle through
the conference structure using Netscape if you prefer this to email
exchange. If you decide you want to access your circle message on
the web through the conference only, and **do not want to have copies
of circle mail sent to your email address,** we will happy to change
the setup for you. Just let us know.
++++++++++++++++++
WHAT TO EXPECT....
==================
+++++++ Expectations set the stage for success. +++++++++>
PLEASE DON'T EXPECT everyone on the network to be the same. Some
classes have a head start because they have been on I*EARN for
some time. Others are just now joining and may take a bit more
time to get going. This is natural. If your Circle is missing
people, we will do what we can to help them figure out the technology.
But some schools are either on or just returning from school breaks.
Australian schools will be returning just in time for the beginning
of the circle, so you are not likely to see test messages from them
this week. There is flexibility in a Circle. <
??? How many people should you expect to be in your Learning Circle???
A good Learning Circle experience does not require a certain number
of classes. Circles with a large number of classes will have diverse
perspectives. Circles with a small number of classes will be able
to explore issues in more depth with more extensive projects. We
have found that an effective BALANCE of these riches (diversity and
intensity) is 6 classes plus or minus 2. We assign enough people
to a Circle to allow for the possibility that some of the classes
will not be able to participate at this time or that a class or two
may be joining late. Please realize (and help your students
understand) that the size of the group (either diverse or intimate)
is not critical to the success of the group. It is the focus of
the group, not its size.
???? How often should you expect others to respond ????
We hope all your partners will communicate each week *and* with
great enthusiasm. But it is wise to help your students understand
that different classes have different time constraints and access
to computer equipment. We try to encourage classes to send 1-3
messages each week.
SO...
1. Don't be worried if your group begins small,
others are likely to join in.
2. Don't expect everyone to participate at
the same level, enjoy your time together.
3. Please tell your partners what to *expect* from
your class. It helps to let others know how
often your team meets, and how much access they
have to computers and communication.
******
For help with technical problems please call:
===================================
# #
# I*EARN support Center #
# support@igc.apc.org #
# 415-442-0220 #
# #
===================================
Please send any inquiries, questions or concerns you may have
regarding your Classroom Connections experience to your
**********************
* Learning Circle *
* Facilitator *
**********************
Or to the Conference iearn.circle under linking people
and resources on I*EARN.
You are not alone - we are here ready
and willing to help!
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\**\ ___\/ \..........| Next Connect News: Monday, Feb 5th |
X*#####*+~~\_\ `---------------------------------------'
o/\ \
\__\
announcing the opening of the Learning Circle.
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