Category 100 Understanding People as Learners

Community Learning Development Resource Category 100

 

UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AS LEARNERS

SUMMARY

We see all people that we engage with as potentially able to make individual changes, by choice, in their lives through having an ability to learn successfully. We talk about their potential to choose to change because often that potential is not already being realised by individuals. An individual’s capacity to learn and choose to make life changes is to a great extent determined by their experience of life. Apart from possible inherited factors, mental or physical ill-health conditions or very early constraints on their development, pre-school age children are all capable of learning and increasing their learning capacity. They all have potential.

Our contention is that somewhere along the line as children develop into adulthood, many seem to lose their motivation and potential to grow as successful learners and achievers. Many adults who experience failure, exclusion and deprivation seem to have been damaged in some way as learners and lack the understandings, skills and in particular the feelings that enable them to take charge of their lives and improve their lot.

The resources in this category (100) explore the nature of people as learners and the experiences which have contributed to their own capacity to take control of their lives. We believe that understanding people as learners and seeking to be learner-centred in how we work with them are crucial aspects of community learning and community development work.

Learning is a natural and universal human process and all individuals learn. The extent to which each person has awareness and understanding of learning within their life is wide ranging. Individuals may have little awareness and low expectations of their own capacity to learn, particularly those who believe that they have achieved little through formal education and training experiences. The ‘Understanding People as Learners’ (100) category of resources explores the nature of people as learners and factors that may have shaped their capacity to learn

UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AS LEARNERS

The 100 Category Resource Guide (100 – 01)

Resource

Notes for Readers and Trainers
100 – 02 The Nature of Learners

In enabling and supporting people to choose to change their lives for the better, we see learning as the key change process.  How can we effectively respond to the needs of people as individual adult learners with different levels of individual awareness, confidence and readiness to learn? This resource (100 – 02) presents some ideas about what we know about the nature of people as learners.This resource can be used to prompt individual and group exploration, reflection and discussion and develop understanding of the implications for individual worker and agency practice.

 
100 – 03

 The Challenges of Negative Learning Experiences

Many people living in neighbourhoods and communities characterised by disadvantage, deprivation and exclusion are perceived to be non-intending or non self-referring learners. They do not choose to actively seek formal educational and training opportunities – they are non-confident as learners.

We need to understand why such people, tell us that they do not want to learn or deny that they can learn. This resource (100 – 03) explores how prior education and training experiences may have impacted on these people and shaped their negative feelings and attitudes about learning.

 

100 – 04

 Nature and nurture

It is suggested that we are all created equal and there is evidence that when we are first born we all have the potential to learn throughout our lives and that generally that potential is much the same for all of us as human beings. This resource (100 – 04) offers a simple activity encouraging us as workers to explore the influence of our own life experiences on our ability to learn and develop.Ideas about how learners develop during their experience of life – from birth – including quotes from learners and workers. Questions prompt reflection and discussion so that we consider what has influenced our own development as a learner and what has constrained that development?

 
100 – 05  What Adults Understand about Learning

Key ideas about adult learners’ experiences and their understanding of learning. Statements which can be used to prompt discussion, individual reflection or small group-work in developing understanding or analysing the implications for worker/agency practice. This resource (100 – 05) explores the status of learning in people’s understanding and therefore the implications for practice which seeks to enable people to recognise and understand that learning is a natural and universal human activity, and one in which they can experience and benefit from their own success. 

 

100 – 06

 Understandings about People as Learners

How people as learners, might be described or labelled by institutions and agencies that are providers of education and training opportunities, is explored in this resource (100 – 06), with observations about implications for community development work. Targeting people as learners is explored, as is the national focus on economic driver for adult learning.This resource can be used to prompt discussion of the nature of learners in relation to their learning experience and needs.

 

100 – 07

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs

This resource (100 – 07) presents Maslow’s model and explores its significance in community learning. Commentary is provided on how unfulfilled levels and needs can constrain an individual’s motivation and ability to learn, and their achievement of learning success. The resource suggests that Maslow’s analysis confirms that those working with excluded learners should be learner-centred and mindful of holistically addressing their individual wants and needs.

 
100 – 08

 

 

How People Learn Best

This resource (100 – 08) explores some ideas and analysis of the characteristics of people as learners and how they learn best.

Examples of concepts that have been researched are briefly described – including Learning Styles, Learning Preferences and Multiple Intelligence. Observations are made about the individuality and the complexity of learners and how they deal with experiences and learning, as individuals and within groups.

 

100 – 09

 

 

Views about Learners from Education and Training Providers

As a work context to be understood and worked with this, the nature of education and training provider understandings, approaches and expectations and their concerns to engage with adult learners in communities, are reviewed in this resource (100 – 09)

Provider quotes about adults as learners can prompt discussion/small group work discussion and feedback of ideas. Key questions prompt review of the nature of adult learners in the community and the influence/impact of the education and training curriculum.

 

CLD Resource Category 100

 

UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AS LEARNERS

SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

 
  • Workers have a practical understanding of the nature of adults as learners in the context of their capacity to learn and their potential to engage in community development and regeneration

 

  • Workers are able to recognise the individuality of adults as learners, in respect of their learning needs, the learning journeys they undertake and the benefits they gain from successful learning

 

  • Workers use approaches and interventions with excluded learners that are inclusive, holistic, learner-centred and empowering

 

  • Workers are able to enable and encourage people through learning to gain individual capacity to take control of their lives and to participate in community development and regeneration activity.