Importance of community participation in adult education
Answers
Adult learning impacts on communities, and our involvement in them, in a number of ways.
1. Developing individual skills helps adults to help themselves
Even when individuals participate in learning to develop their own skills and knowledge, (human capital) social impact on both individuals and their communities has an opportunity to grow. (Vorhaus, J, et al, 2011, Review of research and evaluation on improving adult literacy and numeracy skills; Research paper 61, London, Dept. BIS). Parents and grandparents have recorded positive social outcomes, including raised confidence and improved relationships, when learning how to help their children’s learning (WEA 2016 Adult Education Impact Report, 2016, Improving Lives and Communities through Learning). The ‘Catching Confidence’ study (2004) study, set out to capture changes in confidence during a learning experience. It identified how individuals reported increases in well-being and community involvement. They felt that raised confidence, through new skills and knowledge, helped them to deal with challenges in work and in life, generally. A more recent collection of short adult learners’ stories, summarised how learning helped to increase involvement in volunteering. (Furlong, T and Yasukawa, K (eds), 2016, Resilience, Stories of adult learning, Derby, RAPAL). A consequence of building individual human capital, assists both personal and community outcomes.
2. Learning helps to build social capital and enables social networks to develop
Feinstein and Sabates suggested that learning skills, also builds positive social networks, relationships, social engagement and personal resilience (Feinstein, L and Sabates, R, 2007, The Publlic Value of Adult Learning Skill and Social productivity, London, IOE). Similar evidence was offered by, Preston and Hammond (2002); Fujiwara (2012); the 2016 review of ACL in Wales and the WEA 2016 Impact Study. A curriculum framework, The Citizens’ Curriculum, embraces human, social and identity capital and co-creates learning relevant to participants’ everyday lives. It starts from an understanding that participants have capital to invest in, and add to the process, and its outcomes. Using the New Economy Manchester Unit Cost Database and Fujiwara’s monetary value of adult learning, it can be “calculated that the [Citizens’ Curriculum (link is external)] pilots created a public value of at least £1,443,390.”
The evidence suggests that learning activities help to reduce social isolation, encourage inclusion and cohesion and build social capital, which can lead to economic impact too.
3. Adult learning helps to empower communities to be more tolerant and sustainable
Adult learning of all kinds appears to foster an increase in active citizenship. The Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning (2011) indicated greater community cohesion, tolerance and trust as a result of learning. The 2016 Casey Review stressed the importance of English language learning in helping cohesion and integration. The WEA (2016) report suggested that even where learning is not designed to develop such outcomes, community involvement and tolerance grows. It indicated increases in campaigning; trades union membership and skills for volunteering. The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), along with the OECD (2013) identified how involvement in learning raises the likelihood of voting.
4. Learning arts and cultural activities fosters sustained, community involvement
The WEA long-term impact report (2013), as well as their 2016 study, revealed impact from involvement in all kinds of cultural learning activities. Fegan (2013) found that arts learning, which involves people from diverse backgrounds and communities, builds critical thinking, problem-solving, new knowledge and understanding, all of which are helpful in work and community life. Non-formal arts and culture learning can lead to sustained involvement in communities and fosters greater understanding amongst and between communities.