Category 200 – Understanding Learning Processes

Community Learning Development Resource Category 200 

 

UNDERSTANDING LEARNING AS A PROCESS

 

SUMMARY

This resource category (200) focuses on learning, principally as the holistic natural process of experiential learning. It seeks to support and inform our understanding of learning within community learning, which is a core strand of community development – moving us beyond the confines of the content and subject based learning of formal courses and programmes. Key understandings for developing our practice include the use of the Three Learning Strand Model (Resource 200-03) and Holistic Learning Outcomes (200-04).  The potential learning outcomes for those using these resources are summarised.

 

UNDERSTANDING LEARNING PROCESSES

The Category 200 Resource Guide

Resource

Notes for Readers and Trainers

200 – 02 

 

Definitions of LearningSome Ideas about Learning

Theory (and jargon). As a resource the material can be used to check out people’s understanding and through discussion build on that understanding. Particularly critical is to develop an awareness of learning as a natural process rather than it being perceived as a description of subject material or learning content.

 

200 – 03 The ‘Three Learning Strand Model’

A model for learning experiences, which identifies 3 strands of learning and can be used to prompt thinking about the learner development strand rather than the main formal learning focus on the learning content strand.Also prompts thinking about a Feedback strand and importance in reflective practice and evaluation and quality improvement.

 

200 – 04 Holistic Learning Outcomes

Presented as Learning Outcomes, to support the identification of learning needs, self-assessment and as a framework for the identification of holistic learning outcomes within practice. The framework takes us beyond content –based learning and into the area of individual capacity building and personal development.

 

200 – 05 

 

Learning to use the Library

The learning for a first-time user at a local library was explored with Library Development Workers and recorded in this resource (200 – 05). We were interested in finding out what learning would do for someone, how they could use and apply the learning, and how learning success could benefit them.

 

200 – 06 

 

The Nature of a Piece of Learning

An analysis of the complexity of a piece of learning – the physical skill of throwing a ball – to illustrate the complex nature of learning and to explore the implications for planning for learning and identifying learning barriers, with individual learners.

 

200 – 07 Support Entitlement

This analysis prompts thinking about  particular support needs and provision for people who are non-confident and inexperienced  learners. These are significantly different and additional to the Learning and Learner Support services commonly offered by education and training providers to recruited adult learners.

 

200 – 08 

 

Ground-rules

The concept and practice of having ground-rules for a learning engagement in mind when engaging with a learner, are presented, as a list of concerns and areas to be explored, shared and agreed with a learner. The benefit of these and the prior experience of inexperienced adult learners is explored within the analysis.

 

200 – 09 

 

Community Health Learning

Exploring the role of learning within the work agenda of an agency.The priorities for a PCT local Public Health Team are analysed with workers, in relation to the part that learning might play in the achievement of effective work outcomes, which depends upon being able to encourage and support clients to choose to change their behaviour.

 

200 – 10 

 

Paulo Freire

The life, work and educational philosophy of Paulo Freire is presented as a significant contribution to the development of learner-centred education with adult learners who have significant learning needs. In particular the ideas which place empowerment of the learner at the heart of educational strategies and experiences are described and discussed.

 

200 – 11 

 

Work Outcomes

LearningAgencies and organisations have work outcomes that they seek to achieve. If learning plays any part  in what we do to achieve success, we need to be able to identify the learning components and processes in relation to the people we intend to work with.  This resource (200 – 11) explores the steps that need to be taken in putting appropriate learning in place.

 

200 – 12 Community Development and Learning

Understanding community development and learning concepts, terms and meanings helps us to understand how the two fields relate and connect to bringing about change within neighbourhoods and communities.

 

 

CLD Resource Category 200

UNDERSTANDING LEARNING PROCESSES

SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Workers understand the nature of learning

 

  • Workers understand what learning outcomes are and how they connect  with and contribute to the successful achievement of work outcomes

 

  • Workers understand the need to develop learning strategies and models suited for use in different settings and with a variety of learners

 

  • Workers understand, and can develop and make use of effective roles and approaches, in planning for and enabling learning to take place

 

  • Workers recognise the value of analysing their work area in order to identify work and learning outcomes.