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Learning Circles
The learning circles are part of a participatory exercise in El Salvador aimed at determining the best possible knowledge-based development strategies, to help this country evolve into a learning society.
The learning circles are divided into six areas:
| education & training |
| rural development |
| municipal/local development |
| learning organizations |
| small business & microenterprise |
| migration & knowledge transfer |
Learning circle goals:
Define a national consensus-based vision of the role that learning should play in national development, in terms of knowledge transfer, information and partnerships.
Identify the chief critical areas to address in transforming Salvadoran society into one which bases its development on optimal use of knowledge.
Design pilot projects which will help overcome the obstacles identified and take advantage of existing success factors.
Build the intersectorial partnerships necessary to build these projects, based on mutual and incremental commitments.
Help design a national strategy for public and private investment, both national and international, which will strengthen learning society in El Salvador.
Learning circle members:
Approximately 10-12 individuals per circle, including representatives of government, business and civil society, who have shown an active interest in the issue and willingness to explore the specific area and build pilots.
Each circle has a facilitator to help build and summarize conclusions, strengthen methodology, draw up group documents and identify "best practices" to share and/or invite.
Working calendar:
Six months starting July 23, 1998, followed by a national symposium in February 1999.
Methodology:
| Group positioning | |
| Vision & mission | |
| Analysis of stakeholders, classification and relationships among them | |
| Environment | |
Megatrends, relative importance |
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| Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities & Threats (SLOT) | |
Critical areas & priorities |
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Analysis of each critical area |
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Documentation; relevant case studies |
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| Knowledge flows | |
| Conclusions | |
| Possibles solutions | |
| Strategies, projects & pilots | |
Other learning circle activities:
Sponsorship of "best practices" forums: based on critical areas and possible pilot projects, individuals from other countries will be invited to share their experiences and transfer their knowledge, helping local circle to identify transferrable success factors and learn from other lessons.
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| updated 31 May 1999 |
| Conectándonos al Futuro, San Salvador, El Salvador |
| e-mail: webmaster@infocentros.org.sv |
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| english home page | learning society project description | learning circles | events and discussions | concept paper | strategy paper |
| knowledge and development | connectivity and development | infocenters | salvadoran links | other relevant links |
| learning circles: education : migration : local development : rural development : learning organizations : small & microenterprise |
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| español |