Learning in a Circle - Apparent Simplicity

ABSTRACT

There is greater awareness of the importance of social and emotional learning especially within a pedagogy that adopts the circle configuration. Circle use in the Maltese Islands is a research area which needs further exploration. This paper presents qualitative and quantitative results about the perceptions of Personal Social and Career Development teachers about the use of the circle in the subject. This study indicates that there are various benefits when the circle pedagogy is used both with primary and secondary students. Some of the benefits mentioned by teachers include the improvement of relationships within the classroom and the development of intra and interpersonal competencies of students. The study also highlights the challenges that such a setting presents to the teachers and the importance of adequate training so that teachers have the necessary skills to facilitate lessons within this pedagogical context.

KEYWORDS:

• Circle use
• emotional and social learning
• pedagogy
• training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).