Filed under: Useful Reading
I have been having so much fun setting up a wiki, starting my design and navigation of a prototype web site that I have “neglected”, ever-so-slightly, the academic reading part. My chapters are setting nicely and I have a coherent plan which is good, however I’m hungry for more reading. I’ve gathered around 50 articles so far, each one around 30 pages in length (average) and it has taken me around three hours to read, make notes and digest the concepts within each. So I’ve written a fair amount. I thought I would list a few here, so that I can read them back to give myself an idea for the common threads through each! It may not seem like it but I promise that I have a plan! So here goes:
Hill, R.J. (2004), ‘Fugitive and codified knowledge: implications for communities struggling to control the meaning of local environmental hazards’, International Journal of Lifelong Education, 23 (3) : 221-242.
Carleheden, M. (2006), ‘Towards democratic foundations: a Habermasian perspective on the politics of education’, Journal of Curriculum Studies, 38 (5): 521-543.
Farooq, U., Ganoe, C.H., Xiao, L., Merkel, C.B., Rosson, M.B. and Carroll, J.M. (2007), ‘Supporting community-based learning: case study of a geographical community organization designing its website’, Behaviour & Information Technology, 26 (1): 5-21.
Webb, S. (2006), ‘Can ICT reduce social exclusion? The case of an adults’ English language learning programme’, British Educational Research Journal, 32 (3): 481-507.
Hammond, K. (2006), ‘Alasdair MacIntyre’s idea of an educated public and ‘informal’ adult education in Scotland’, Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 12 (1): 107-115.
This gives me an idea for where I’m going with my reading. Well it’s apparent to me anyway, I’m looking at past studies where the communities themselves have articulated their learning needs and how that has worked out. I’m not convinced by the social exclusion argument still; like in some way there’s an accepted middle where apparently “normal” and “functioning” groups of people are living happy lives. And those of us on the margins are perceived to be excluded. Not sure, but hey, I’m open for a debate about that. My project isn’t concerned with the economic side of learning (i.e. to get a job) but rather being aware of yourself, your surroundings, engaging more with your community and monitoring the results of that.
