Critically Evaluate the Role Adult Learning Plays in Challenging Social Exclusion

7095 Words29 Pages
This essay will explore and evaluate the importance of adult learning in society today. As there are many aspects of adult learning, each will be explored in some detail whilst understanding the definite connection to lifelong learning. There are many social and psychological aspects of lifelong learning that may benefit the United Kingdom, but international perspectives will also be analysed for a greater understanding of the topic as a whole. Community development will be a key point of discussion at some points during this assignment as it will be interesting to understand not only how individuals learn, but how communities come together for a cause, and how lifelong learning affects communities. ‘Lifelong learning is a beautifully simple idea. It is obvious that people learn throughout their lives: It is done almost as unconsciously as breathing’ (Field, 2006 p.1). Jarvis (2007) among other writers agree that the theory of lifelong learning does contain many perceptions and perspectives: ‘The individual’s capacity for learning across the life-span means that people can learn in many different ways and contexts’ (Tett, 2006). Because of this reason, it is difficult to fully define ‘lifelong learning’. Hargreaves (2004 p.1) suggests that the term itself should be the foundation of what it means, which states simply that ‘learning lasts for life’. This therefore should diminish the thought that lifelong learning is only true when compulsory education is over. Holford, Jarvis & Griffin (1998 p.45) have uncovered the complexity of the term ‘lifelong learning’. They suggest that lifelong learning not only ‘refers to the actual experience of the individual learner or that of groups of learners’, but incorporates many other aspects of society in general, such as education, policy and societal structure. As suggested previously, people may have a tendency to believe
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