A Dialogic Gathering (DG) is both an educational and a cultural activity where all participants discuss best universal works in literature, art, music, science and other domains, and together construct meaning. DGs enable anyone to have direct access to the universally recognised “best works”, regardless of their age, gender, culture or ability.

Dialogic learning is based on the theory that learners develop a deep understanding of a subject through discussions which build upon each person’s cultural intelligence and support shared creation of meaning.

DG have been identified as one of Successful Educational Actions in INCLUD-ED Project (FP6) for their proven capacity to improve learning, emotional self-regulation, and the overall learning climate. DGs help to raise the quality and extent of interactions of all participants.

Family education means opening the school to families in order to improve their instrumental education. The educational centres’ training offer is open not only to students and teachers, but also to families. Family education is based on training in successful actions and responds to the interests and needs of families.

The programmes and contents of the family training are decided by the families themselves and the community, so that the programme responds directly to their needs and interests, based on the principles of the dialogic learning approach.

This is realised in a variety of ways:

(a) Dialogic reading

More spaces for reading and writing at more times and with more people. In the classroom (interactive groups, shared reading…), in the centre (tutored library, study rooms, tutored digital classrooms…) and in the community (family training, reading at home…), the practice of dialogic reading is carried out in a more diversified, shared and coordinated way between the educational centre, families and the educational community in general.

(b) Extension of Learning Time

This offers additional learning opportunities for learners to benefit from Successful Educational Actions, such as DLGs or, for example, Tutored Libraries where learners do school work and can get answers to any questions they may have about it. This accelerates learning for all learners and at the same time offers additional support for less able or disadvantaged learners.

(c) Mixed Working Commissions

The families and the community collaborate directly with the teaching staff in the organisation of the educational centre through the mixed commissions made up of teachers, students, volunteers and/or other educational professionals (integrating the diversity of profiles that make up the educational community). These commissions are responsible for carrying out the transformations towards the successful actions that the centre has set out to develop. Some possible mixed committees include: voluntary work, learning, communication, coexistence, etc.

This is a model for preventing and dealing with conflicts through egalitarian dialogue involving the whole community. In dealing with conflict, consensus among all parties involved, especially students, on the rules of coexistence takes centre stage, generating a dialogue shared by the entire community throughout the normative process (procedural ethics).

The dialogic model focuses on creating a better space for learning in schools that is free of violence from the outset, adopting a preventive approach to conflict. It is considered more effective for conflict prevention and resolution than disciplinary models (based on hierarchies and the role of an authority that maintains coexistence) and mediation models (based on the involvement of an «expert» who mediates between the parties according to established rules).

This action encourages teachers to learn from the research available from the international scientific community and to develop their knowledge of the best educational theories. Reading, researching and discussing Successful Educational Actions supported by the international scientific community and sharing knowledge through this space are the most common actions to acquire the best and most up-to-date knowledge.