The Democratic Classroom is a Learn/Build. We will acquire (the Learn) knowledge and skills that strengthen our capacity to develop effective democratic learning environments by developing (the Build) support structures and processes that facilitate democratically-based learning by students. The learn/build follows the inquiry model developed by Barbara Stripling — moving through Connect, Wonder, Investigate, Construct, and Express (with Reflection throughout).

The calendar of our work. Every three weeks, we will meet synchronously online — using the CoLearning meeting space. Between synchronous meetings, we’ll do work we’ve set for ourselves; that work is posted on the learn/build’s Activities page. The date and time for each synchronous meetings will be posted, but generally each will occur on a Monday, from 4 to 5 p.m.

• October 24, 2011 —  Connect – First synchronous meeting
  (You can view/hear a recording of the meeting.)
• October 25-November 13 — Group work on Connect & Wonder activities
• November 14, 2011  —  Wonder — Second synchronous meeting

Later dates will become more precise as we make progress. The windows are: 

• November 15–December 3, 2011 — Investigate
• December 4, 2011–January 15, 2012 — Construct
• January 16–February 17, 2012 — Express
• February 17–29, 2012 — Reflect

Objectives: Through this learn/build we will gain…

• Compelling understanding of what a democratic classroom is;
• An idea how to build a culture and implement a democratic classroom;
• A stronger understanding of how to build an inquiry-based classroom;
• Deeper and more sustained habits of mind and practice as collaborative, networked, democratic learners;
• The development of effective learning-support structures and processes that they can use to facilitate democratically-based learning by their students.