Learning Circle
A Learning Circle, in the Atlassian Team Playbook format, is a recurring session in which one or more team members present something they have researched or learned, followed by questions and a facilitated group discussion. It spreads knowledge within and between teams and makes learning a regular part of work rather than an occasional training day. Each session ends with takeaways and suggestions for future topics.
Facilitation script
- 1
Set the stage: purpose of the circle, ground rules, quick introductions and today's topic.
10 min - 2
Presentation or interactive activity by the presenters. Ask attendees to note questions rather than interrupt.
20 min - 3
Questions to the presenters, kept to clarification and going deeper.
5 min - 4
Facilitated discussion: where does this apply to our work, what would we do differently, where do we disagree.
20 min - 5
Reflection round: one takeaway per person, then collect suggestions for future topics and presenters.
5 min
Tips
Keep the presentation to about a third of the time and protect the discussion, which is where knowledge moves from the presenter to the group.
Have someone other than the presenter facilitate, so the presenter can concentrate on content and does not have to manage the conversation about their own material.
Keep a visible backlog of topics and let attendees add to it, so the circle does not depend on one person's energy.
Common pitfalls
Letting the presentation fill the whole slot, which turns the circle into a lecture and removes the discussion that makes the learning stick
The same two or three people presenting every time, so the circle becomes their show and others stop seeing themselves as contributors
Choosing topics by what presenters find interesting with no link to the group's work, after which attendance drops within a few sessions
Skipping the reflection at the end, so nobody states a takeaway and the topic backlog runs dry
Scheduling it as optional in a slot that always loses to delivery work, which signals that learning is what happens when nothing else is on
Variations
A 30-minute version shortens the presentation to ten minutes and merges questions with discussion. Remote circles work well with a shared document for questions collected during the presentation. For cross-team circles, rotate the hosting team each session. Note that the name is also used for other traditions, such as peer study groups and facilitated online courses; this page describes the Atlassian meeting format.
Where it fits
When to use it
One or two people hold knowledge the rest of the team keeps asking them for
Team members attend courses and conferences and what they learn stays with them
Several teams work on related problems without knowing what the others have already found out
The team wants a low-cost learning format that needs no external trainer or budget
Someone has explored a new tool, technique or piece of research and the team needs to decide whether it is relevant
When not to use it
A team faces a specific problem and wants advice from people who have solved it before; a Peer Assist is built around the asker's question, not a presenter's topic
There is no prepared topic and people want to talk about whatever is on their minds; Lean Coffee lets the group build the agenda on the spot
The goal is open conversation among equals with no presenter; a Knowledge Café fits better
People need to acquire a skill to a defined standard, for example for compliance or safety; that calls for structured training with practice and assessment
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Learning Circle?▾
In the Atlassian Team Playbook, a Learning Circle is a recurring session where team members present something they have researched or learned, take questions, and then join a facilitated discussion with the group. Its purpose is to share knowledge within and between teams and to keep learning continuous.
How long is a Learning Circle and how many people take part?▾
A session runs 30 to 60 minutes with about six to twelve people. The full-length version gives around 20 minutes each to the presentation and the discussion, with shorter blocks for the opening, questions and reflection.
How often should a team run one?▾
The format is meant to recur, and the right rhythm depends on how many topics and presenters the group can sustain. Every two to four weeks is a workable starting point; adjust once you see how quickly the topic backlog fills.
Who presents?▾
Any team member, alone or with a colleague. The presenter does not need to be an expert; a person who spent a few hours researching a question and reports what they found is exactly the intended case. Rotating presenters spreads both the workload and the habit of learning in public.
Is this the same as a study circle or peer learning group?▾
The term is used for several formats, including peer study groups that work through material together over weeks. This page describes the Atlassian meeting format specifically: a single session with a presentation, questions, discussion and reflection.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Atlassian Team Playbook.