1. Introductory issues
The last ten years of Romanian higher education were marked by the appearance of virtual classes as a result
of the didactic strategy used into the educational process. These together with collaborative projects enhanced the
efficiency of learning mainly in pre-university education [4].
After clarifying some theoretical concepts regarding a certain type of learning that the authors used in their
didactic activities at pre-university level, we will demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages in developing
transmittable competencies.
Learning circles support the training of students and teachers in collaborative learning activities. "Learning
circles" promote projects based activities on a given topic incorporating them into curriculum. Working in"learning circles", students are encouraged to develop interpersonal skills in group work and in perceiving group
results as their own results. Also, this type of activity encourages interaction between teachers from the same
school or from different schools promoting various dynamic professional development models.
"Learning circles" type projects combine distance learning with traditional learning being perceived as a
complex of human networks requiring adequate technical, human, financial and procedural management.[3]
Teamwork, teaching others and carrying out activities with people from diverse backgrounds are useful skills
for students' future social work, skills that are developed using the Internet in such projects.[6]
These types of learning were used for a semester with the third year students from different departments (from
the Petroleum-Gas University in Ploieúti and the Technical University from Cluj) and the students who took part
in such collaborations proved an increased psycho-social adaptability in the first year after graduation as
compared to the others (62% of them were hired in the first year after graduation and 38% of them proved
flexibility in manifesting their professional competencies working in fields related to their specializations).