Synthesis of Roving Conversations

How do learning communites effectively form?

Recognizing that learning communities form for all different reasons, it is our aspiration and belief that learning communities are most meaningful and effective when:

• They form around a shared purpose, passion, or common need for learning.
• They attract people who want and need to do the work together
• They are voluntary; people can opt in or out

Who participates and with what commitments

People participate in learning communities with all different levels of readiness, our aspiration is that people who participate do so because:

• They understand and share the purpose of the LC
• They value the democratice process of learning
• They feel like they can contribute and benefit from learning
• They come with a commitment to strengthen their own practice and that of others as well as the wohole group
• They come with a spirit of openness, generosity, humility and courage

How do we create an environment that encourages collective learning?

• Create a culture of openness, respect, and questioning
• Establish shared commitment about how we want to be and work together
• Offer a purpose and vision that speaks to people's need and a desire to contribute
• Pay attention to the whole person and cultivating

What leadership do LCs need?

• A committed core that understand and can model effective participation
• Skilled facilitation that can hold the container
• Hosting

What resources support success?

• Time
• Shared language
• Process of communication
• Facilitation
• Hosting

Questions raised

• What is our tolerance for accomodating people who are less ready to fully participate in a learning community? What is gained and lost by including or excluding people? What is our commitment to sharing if we exclude? What is our commitment to going deep if we are inclusive? How do we hold this balance?

• How do resources postively and negatively effect LCs?

• What attention do we need to pay to how learning communities interface with wider communities? What is our commitment to sharing, learning within wider communities and how do we effectively do this?

• When do LCs self-organize and when do they require direction?