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Learning sets

A learning set is a learning community that enables 5 to 10 members to support each other in their learning..  Each learning set adopts an action frame of reference, enabling and facilitating members to complete the learning tasks associated with their thesis, unit of study or other learning project. Sharing and learning from experience is an important part of this. Members share information and resources, and provide practical and emotional support. They help each other decide how to proceed with learning tasks, they exchange material relevant to the interests of the learning set members, and learn from one another's experience. The primary purpose of the learning set is to support the learning of its members. Each member works on his or her own project, and can call on the skills, knowledge and expertise of other set members. 

A staff member called a Facilitator is attached to each learning set.  His or her role is to advise and help the members to facilitate each other's learning. Facilitators are not teachers. Their chief focus is on the process of leaning set functioning, not on the acquisition of content by members. The responsibility for success lies equally with the commitment of all the participants, including the set Facilitator.  

By reflecting on what they are doing as learners, members of the learning set see how to do it better.  In helping each other, participants see more clearly how to help themselves. Each member of the learning set is asked to maintain a reflective learning diary (or blog), and bring it to each meeting of the learning set.  The learning set facilitator also keeps a reflective learning diary. Reflection in the learning set normally has two aspects. Participants review progress made since the last meeting, and make an action plan for learning between this meeting and the next. In addition, as learning needs are identified, the learning set may agree to allocate time for specific workshop or other activities.

Members of a learning set need not be working on the same kind of project or the same unit of study. A variety of professional backgrounds and learning projects in the learning set is an asset, bringing that the richness of experience, and presenting alternative perspectives.

When a new learning set is established, and when new members join an existing set,  time should be invested in developing the group dynamics and mutual support system. Ground rules and a standard agenda for a learning set meetings should be agreed to, and revised at least once each year in sets that continue this long. After that, attention is needed to maintain group dynamics inside each learning set.

 Each participant in a learning set has a project. This is usually a research thesis, but could be a work related project; a project to complete a course of study; or something else. The project involves activities and tasks, such as completing literature reviews, collecting data and so on. The main task of the learning set is to help each member to learn what it is that he or she needs complete his or her project.  The Facilitator has a project, which is to promote good functioning in the learning set. Learning Set Facilitators may form their own learning set (meta-learning set) in which they learn how to improve the functioning of the sets they advise.

Some learning sets include members who are not present for face-to-face meetings, and who interact mainly electronically. Most have regular face-to-face meetings, usually once each month.

This page last updated 21 March, 2006  (Ian Hughes)