Study Circles: What They Are and How They Work

Study circles are a simple way to discuss complex issues. Study circles involve a short term commitment, and work in a democratic fashion to come to a consensus about an issue. In my essay, I will discuss why study circles are a great tool to utilize for working through a problem over a period of time.

The first of three points I will discuss are the overview of study circles, what they are and how they came to be. The second point I will discuss is what the study circles are used for. Third, I will give my personal insight and critique about study circles.

The History of Study Circles

Study circles originated in 19^th Century Sweden. Study circles are believed to have evolved out of the introduction to compulsory schooling in response to the growing concern for illiterate adults. Compulsory schooling can best be described as government mandated education in which children must participate (Wilkipedia.org).

How Study Circles work

A topic is chosen for the group, usually by the organizer. The study group is first organized by an individual; in which case it may or may not be the same person as the facilitator. Once the facilitator has been chosen by the organizer, provided that they are not the same person, the participants are recruited. Study circles usually consist of 5-20 people who are known as participants.

Who is involved in study circles?

Participants hold many responsibilities when they chose to take part in a study circle. Some of these responsibilities are active listening, speaking thoughtfully, sharing, and most importantly to respect themselves and others. Not everyone wants to participate in study circles, so they must be recruited. (Study circles.org)

Participants can be recruited in many different ways. It could be flyers in local places; ads placed in local newspapers, word of mouth or even internet sites. Once these few steps have been taken, the next steps involve setting up the meetings. (Study Circles, A Guide for Programmers).

The job of the facilitator is to do more than run the group. In fact, the facilitator is seen as more of a moderator, to keep the discussion going. It is not the job of the facilitator to dictate that group. Instead the facilitator may ask framing questions which will help lead the group into dialogue.

The facilitator will of course want to encourage everyone to participate and keep the focus on the chosen topic. The facilitator should also encourage the group to be relaxed and laid-back. It is much easier to talk to people who are not uptight, and are willing to listen to one another. The facilitator is essential to helping the group respect each other and working towards the final outcome of the dialogue. However, there are always issues which may arise during facilitation:

Some issues that may arise are:

Member(s) of the group becomes overly dominant and controlling of the conversation.

Member(s) are intimidated to speak for fear of reaction to their statement or opinions.

Member(s) may lose focus on the topic and take opportunities for other to speak.

Member(s) may begin to debate one another instead of using dialogue.

Members(s) may begin personal attacks on one another if they feel intimidated or disagree with what is being said.

Member(s) may not allow others to finish what they are saying.

These reasons further reinforce the importance of a neutral facilitator who can quickly regain control over the situation as needed. The participants of the group should also be responsible for their own actions by taking accountability for their actions and adhering to the ground rules set by the group beforehand.

The meeting times and location must also be decided upon. Many study circles take place during the evenings or weekends for convenience but it can vary. It will of course depend on the topic. Some topics are smaller, and therefore will require a shorter period of time to discuss, while others will take longer. The time span in which the group convenes is usually around two hours, over a period of a few weeks.

For most groups, when the topic is chosen, the material is also planned, or written for the discussion. This may include using material from books, newspapers or other sources of information. If I were to plan a study circle about community violence, I would need back up material. For instance I would start by gathering documents from the CBI (Colorado Bureau of Investigation) as well as the local policing districts.

I would gather statistics to support the topic, which would be community violence. I might even take the time to research the national crime statistics to see how our area compared. I would make copies for everyone. To emphasize the community violence topic, I may choose to bring in news clipping or other supporting evidence. However the best way to learn about what is really going on, I would want people to share their personal experiences.

At the conclusion of each meeting, I would ask for feedback. I would offer both options of talking about it, or for those who are not comfortable speaking, the option to write their suggestions. The purpose of the feedback is to learn, what works, and what doesn't. It also may bring points to light that you may not have thought about beforehand.

Why study circles can work

Study circles are a facilitation technique in which great things can take place. Study circles allow people to come together in a comfortable, non- aggressive environment. Study circles work well for people who want to solve a problem, or come to an understanding or compromise about an issue.

Study circles usually help solve problems because they are democratic in nature. Everyone has a voice and is allowed to share their stories and opinions. There are of course some issues that are easier to discuss in a study circle format than others, but most issues can be developed into study circles.

Some issues that work well are:

Racial issues

Issues related to education

Diversity issues

Immigration

Police and community issues

Work related issues

These of course do not include the many variations which could be discussed in a study circle. Study circles are useful because they encourage good listening and speaking skills. They are not debates, they are dialogue. In study circles everyone can be heard. One great benefit of using study circles is that they help address problems in a constructive manner. They usually are all inclusive to anyone and everyone in the community. Study circles allow people with busy schedules to become involved.

An Example of a Study Circle

An example of a study circle in action took place in 2006. In the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina a study circle of 35 people came together to dialogue about poverty, violence and cultural awareness. The organizer chose these topics for the study circle. The group responsible for organizing the study circle was the Department of Human Relations Commission.

The facilitators were not members of this commission, they were however members of the community. The participants were volunteers from the community who had a vested interest in the outcome. There was a diverse group who came together to work towards possible solutions for the rampant issues facing their community. (Study Circles.Org)

It was an interesting study circle because the participants ranged from Police officers, students, single parents to architectural apprentices.

It was even more interesting because while there was really a diverse group, their backgrounds did not play as much into the study circle as you might have thought. The aspects that did come into light were the willingness to help one another, and of course their personal stories and ideas.

The North Carolina study circle advertised for participants in a local newspaper. They were not paid, but did people want to merely make changes in their community.

Personal Insights

The research which I have done has given me a far better understanding of the dynamics of study circles and the way in which groups can be beneficial to those who chose to participate in them. It was during my research that I learned that there are in fact virtual study circles. However, it is my personal opinion that study circles would be far more interesting to participate or facilitate in person. The dynamics of dialogue in person versus the online environment are very different.

Dynamics and Dialogue: of online versus in person

The dynamics and dialogue in an in person setting can be more intense and rewarding. It is far easier to read the emotions of the participants and facilitator. Body language and the tone of voice can help decipher the emotions which can easily be misconstrued in the online environment. Unfortunately it is a monotone environment online without the help of emoticons or very clear dialogue to explain the meanings of the language.

It has been my personal experience and preference to work in person with other people. I have taken several classes online which to me where in the study circle fashion. I don't mind this method but, I do not like knowing what the actual meanings are behind the words. I feel that I have had several bad experiences with the online forum of learning. It was always difficult to tell if someone was coming across rude or just concerned. The monotone of this environment almost made it too distracting too learn at times.

The in person interactions I have had however, tend to be much better for my learning in the long-run. It seems that I am able to retain the information better and longer with in person interactions. I personally like to read body language to see what people are thinking, and what kind of mood they are in. For me this translates into why in person interactions are better learning experiences than online situations. Based upon this, it's comparable to the online or in person study circles.

Overall, I believe that it is a personal preference if people may benefit from study circles. The hardest part is being able to commit to the process. There is also the dedication of the group, and being able to dialogue with others in an effective manner.

In my essay, I discussed why study circles are a great tool to utilize for working through a problem over a period of time. I supported this statement by discussing how they are beneficial and ways which we can enrich our lives by participating or facilitating study circles.

The three points I discussed were the overview of study circles, what they are and how they came to be. The second point I will discussed was what the study circles are used for. Last, I shared my personal insight and critique about study circles.

References:

Study Circles a Guide for Programmers (2007) from Study Circles website http://www.nald.ca/CLR/study/scguide.htm

Study Circles.Org (2007) Retrieved June 19, 2007 from Study Circles .Org website http://www.studycircles.org/en/index.aspx

Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia (2007) Retrieved June 19, 2007 from Wikipedia website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Study_circles