Learning Circles Toolkit
This toolkit has been developed as part of a project called From Cooperative Learning Strategies to Quality Continuing Care Workplaces, with funding provided by Covenant Health. This project has documented the useful knowledge, structures and resources for implementing and sustaining learning circles within the continuing care setting. The purpose of this toolkit is to share this information with you, in order to help familiarize you with learning circles and to provide you with the necessary resources and support to implement and evaluate learning circles at your site.
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Resources for Facilitators
This section provides a collection of resources designed to support facilitators who plan to facilitate a series of learning circles within a continuing care setting. It includes background information, resources for organizing and facilitating learning circles, and information on how to go about sharing the learning within the site.
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Background on Learning Circles​​​
The Learning Circle Model: 3 spaces & 4 phases
Learning Circles as Experiential Learning
Learning Circles as Reflective Practice
Learning Circles are Supportive of Team Development
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Organizing Learning Circles
Introducing Learning Circles to Participants
Learning Circle Goal & Objectives
Tips: Recruitment & Continuing Participation
Single Discipline vs Interdisciplinary Groups
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Facilitating Learning Circles
Essential Skills of a Learning Circle Facilitator
The Qualities of a Learning Circle Facilitator
General Guidelines for Group Discussion
Building Trust Through Ground Rules
Practical Tips for Getting the Group to Commit to Action
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Sharing the Learning Beyond the Learning Circles
Information for Site Sponsors
This section provides a collection of resources for site sponsors providing management support to learning circles within a continuing care site. It includes background information, as well as resources for implementing and sustaining learning circles.
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Background on Learning Circles
The Learning Circle Model: 3 spaces & 4 phases
Learning Circles as Experiential Learning
Learning Circles as Reflective Practice
Learning Circles are Supportive of Team Development
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Implementing Learning Circles
Learning Circle Pre-implementation Checklist
Learning Circle Goal & Objectives
Single Discipline vs Interdisciplinary Groups
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Sustaining Learning Circles
Information for Organizational Sponsors
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This section provides a collection of resources written for organizational sponsors administering learning circles within a continuing care site. It includes background information, as well as resources for implementing and sustaining learning circles.
Background on Learning Circles
The Learning Circle Model: 3 spaces & 4 phases
Learning Circles as Experiential Learning
Learning Circles as Reflective Practice
Learning Circles are Supportive of Team Development
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Implementing Learning Circles
Cost and Benefits of Learning Circles
Single Discipline vs Interdisciplinary Groups
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Sustaining Learning Circles
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Learning Circles - Reports and Presentations
2016
In October 2016, Sandra Woodhead Lyons presented Development of a meaningful staff development resource as a participatory activity in continuing care at the 45th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology: Fostering Innovation in Research on Aging in Montreal.
In June 2016, Sandra Woodhead Lyons presented Can Cooperative Learning Strategies Lead to Practice Change in Continuing Care? at the Our Future is Aging: Current Research on Knowledge, Practice and Policy conference in Halifax.
Gail V. Barrington presented The Evaluation Team as an Adaptive System: the Learning Circle Story at the Canadian Evaluation Society conference in St. John’s Newfoundland on June 7, 2016.
ICCER presented a poster - Using developmental evaluation in health service research: A collaborative approach to qualitative data analysis - at the International Institute on Qualitative Methodology conference in Glasgow on May 3rd.
At the end of December 2015, the research team completed their report discussing the Learning Circles project, their key findings, and recommendations. An Executive Summary and a short, 2-page document were also created.
Full report - The Learning Circle Story: Building Capacity in Continuing Care
Executive Summary - The Learning Circle Story: Building Capacity in Continuing Care
Highlights document - The Learning Circle Story: Building Capacity in Continuing Care
2015
On 25 October 2015, the research team held a symposium at the Canadian Association on Gerontology conference in Calgary, Alberta. A copy of their PowerPoint is available here.
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On 30 September 2015, PI Sharla King presented on behalf of the research team at the Collaboration Across Borders V conference. A copy of her presentation is available here.
2014
Learning Circles: From Cooperative Learning Strategies to Quality Continuing Care Workplaces
In 2014 a team led by Dr. Sharla King (University of Alberta) and Mr. Steve Friesen (Bethany Care Society) received funding through Covenant Health’s Network of Excellence in Seniors Health & Wellness to implement and evaluate learning circles in both long term care and supportive living sites in Alberta. Information on the project can be found here.
2013
Adult education was the number 2 issue identified in the 2012 consultation process with direct care providers. Knowledge transfer, and increasing the capacity of health providers to integrate best practices into care, is one of the most urgent challenges and opportunities for quality improvement in continuing care. Many organizations spend considerable time and resources on educational initiatives to inform and build capacity of direct care providers. However, there is evidence that traditional education methods for transferring knowledge are not effective, particularly with Health Care Aides. ICCER funded a pilot project to implement learning circles in Bethany Care Society and Excel Society. Funding was provided for Barrington Research Group to conduct a formal evaluation of the learning circles implemented at Bethany Care.
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Initial findings show that the learning circles have:
i) increased communication between staff and management;
ii) increased communication between staff;
iii) increased collaborative teamwork;
iv) enhanced resident-centred care; and
v) increased confidence in decision-making abilities.
Final report of the evaluation of the learning circle project (June 2014)
Poster presented at the 11th European Evaluation Society Biennial Conference (1-3 October 2014)​