Themes

Influences on participation in learning

Experiences of learning

Technology and learning

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Encouraging hard to reach learners:

Formal learning can be a nerve-racking experience for some people who may not have had a good experience at school, lack confidence in their own abilities, or perhaps have just not been on a course for a long time.  Learners have told us that there are several things that help engage them in the process and make it a more positive and comfortable experience to learn. 

Small, informal and friendly groups help support learning.  This is especially important for first-rung learning when people are apprehensive about returning to learning after a long break.  Large classes can be intimidating, and the tutor will have less time to give the learner the support they need.  The tutor can help foster a friendly atmosphere where students support one another and people can be confident of asking questions without ridicule.  It can also be useful if learners are at a similar level as this generates a sense of relief that they are not the only one who is in the same situation.

Learning in a familiar environment and from familiar people is an easier first step than going somewhere completely new for those who may be lacking in confidence.  There are lots of opportunities for this to happen, for example a parent may get involved with Sure Start activities with their child and then go on to enrol on a course that Sure Start is running.  Another example may be someone who goes along to social activities at a community centre, hears about a course running there and, because they know the venue and the people there, feels confident enough to get involved. 

Volcom's Residents.net project put computers into community groups around Hull.  This enabled a lot of informal learning in a familiar setting for people who were less confident about technology.  Groups members were learn from each other with the members more experienced in IT passing on their skills to others.  Some groups were also able to arrange for computer courses to take place in the usual place where that groups met.  For more details visit the Residents.net evaluation report

A learner centred approach helps engage learners by personalising the learning to suit them.  An evaluation of the Adult and Community Learning Fund in Hull showed that this was one of the things that helped make the project successful.  Learners from a number of different local community groups were asked what they wanted to learn and then courses were delivered at those community centres that suited the needs of those learners.  This needs-led approach meant the learning was directly relevant to the group and,

"...people actually are going and learning what they want to learn.  They're not there thinking, Oh I don't really want to listen to this..."

A good tutor-student relationship is critical.  This is discussed in the section about Tutors  and What makes a good tutor .

When moving into more formal learning learners benefit from support.  There may be quite a gap between informal, first-rung learning held at a small, local venue to going to a big college and taking part in an accredited course.  Learners may need support to help them develop the independent study skills required and to deal with any issues that might arise from this new experience. 

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