Life Long Learning at Brown

(formerly BCLIR)

Lifelong Learning at Brown University offers an intellectually stimulating environment for adults who are eager to engage with peers, faculty, and expert guest lecturers. Participants are mature learners whose schedule allows them to meet during two hour time blocks (10:15AM -12:15PM or 1:15PM to 3:15P) at least one day a week for ten week semesters. Brown University seeks  to meet the needs and goals of a growing population of mature learners with an array of learning opportunities and formats .

Life Long Learning features Peer-led Collaborative Learning - Study Groups

In peer-led collaborative learning at Brown, volunteer coordinators organize informal groups to study topics of their own choosing.  In contrast to traditional courses there are no paid professionals.  Everyone is expected to actively participate to some extent.  Coordinators go through a series of orientation sessions to assist them in being effective group facilitators.  Class members share in the planning, presentation and discussion of material.  This model encourages a meeting of peers, in which members both teach and learn from each other, exchanging ideas, knowledge, and experiences.

In our peer-led offerings, written papers are never required, but class participation is.  In their initial presentations at the beginning of each course, coordinators work to clear up as many questions as possible about how to research a topic, make a presentation, and lead a discussion.

The  role of session leader may take two forms:  either a) presenting prepared remarks on the given topic, to last no longer than twenty minutes, then leading a class discussion on that topic (the most common form); or b) assigning selected reading(s) to the class in a previous week and leading a discussion about those readings.  The coordinator(s) are always willing to help class members find research material, prepare AV displays, or offer whatever assistance may be needed for the session each member has selected to lead.

While the presentation/discussion model stands at the core of our peer-led collaborative learning model, a small number of courses are offered each semester in which presentations are not required.  Coordinator(s) take on the responsibility of presenting material and leading discussion.  

In addition there are opportunities to participate in more traditional faculty led non-credit courses during the day or through our Continuing Studies programs offered  in the evenings or on weekends.