Learning Groups will provide guidance and support for each student’s individualized learning needs. The learning group is the university’s parallel to the traditional “class,” the forum for students to meet and share learning. In the group students’ actions are facilitated and overseen by a faculty member. The faculty does not direct peer-to-peer engagement as in a traditional class. Recent experiments with online learning, including some MOOCs, have brought forward a number of new innovations in peer-to-peer engagement, and at the same time show how faculty can facilitate and accredit while not “teaching.” The University of the World intends to take advantage of all of these innovations unfolding around the world. Blended learning allows for this diversity of engagement.
Each student follows the journey, defined by their Learning Plan, at a pace allowed by their learning, time, interests, and financial abilities. Adjustments, some significant, will need to be made to ensure fit of student to learning process to product as mandated by the skill competencies. In these individual journeys set by the student, they support also the journeys of others in their learning group.
Local and Global Classes
There are two types of such groups: Local Classes and and larger Global Classes. A Local Class allows students to gather, typically five to eight members who live in sufficient geographic proximity that they can get together a couple times a month, often visiting local demonstrations. A Local Class will include students from different academic areas to encourage process-based learning, focusing especially on the two domains of Broad Integrative Learning and Intellectual Skills in visits where the content of that demonstration may not be theirs but the processes used are relevant.
The Global Class focus is on one subject area, and will comprise groups up to 25 students engaging with each other electronically, addressing especially the domains of Applied Learning and Specialized Knowledge. In each cohort some students will be more advanced, others just entering, allowing the advanced students to mentor the newly joining.
Local Classes, while created so they can and will engage face-to-face, will also engage electronically. The engagement process is not just peer-to-peer in the class, but also these class members should be active in their community and should engage at times as a group. In this way, Local Classes will not be just teaching each other, but also their communities and in doing so strengthen their communities.
The Local and Global Class process is not time-based as in conventional classes. Neither is it a group of students who are taught by the faculty. In this new approach, a global learning network informing local action is fostered. The model allows for the local participants to perform to global standard, but growing from local resources and priorities. It also allows for contributing to the work of fellow students through the aggregation of an extensive knowledge base of localized learning and assists the learning of others.