Context

The context is the exploration of the value of democratic learning at online and face to face conferences and specialist gatherings in which everyone involved is treated as an expert, not just the speaker. In fact, several speakers are asked to contribute to a learning session with just key ideas from their practice, experience and research.

Participants have recognised the power of this phenomenon and said that the notion could draw on the impact of Citizens Assemblies and be a counter to  government ‘Nudge’ units. The can be described politically as the pursuit of deliberative democracy which aspires to enable informed decision making. Others have simplified this notion as circle time for grownups. Still others have questioned why circle time was rarely thought of as a tool for adults and have welcomed the potential to technology to enhance cooperative problem solving.