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“I’m suddenly somebody!”

“I’m suddenly somebody!”. Pedagogies of Practice: Researching informal learning. Birkbeck Institute for Lifelong Learning Thursday 27 April 2006 “I’m suddenly somebody!” – Informal learning and the Women’s Institutes Jan Etienne and Sue Jackson. Background to the Project.

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“I’m suddenly somebody!”

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  1. “I’m suddenly somebody!”

  2. Pedagogies of Practice: Researching informal learning Birkbeck Institute for Lifelong Learning Thursday 27 April 2006 “I’m suddenly somebody!” – Informal learning and the Women’s Institutes Jan Etienne and Sue Jackson

  3. Background to the Project

  4. National Federation of Women’s Institutes • The National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) is the largest organisation for women in the UK with 215,000 members in England, Wales and the Islands.

  5. Mission • The WI exists to educate women to enable them to provide an effective role in the community, to expand their horizons and to develop and pass on important skills.

  6. The WI encourages and enables women to: • enhance their lives and play their part in the community through education • improve their lives and the lives of those around them • lead fulfilling lives, be of influence in the community, and influence policy makers • provide a friendly atmosphere where women can be inspired and enlightened

  7. Denman College

  8. Learning with the WI enables: • ‘to be part of my community’ • ‘have a wider knowledge about my community’ • ‘find getting on with others easier’ • ‘gain new opportunities’ • ‘be involved in community work’ • ‘lead and share experiences’

  9. The ESRC projectaims to explore: • the impact on and for lifelong learning in constructions of identities • (older) women’s engagement as active citizens • the relationship between civic engagement and lifelong learning • women’s lifelong learning in and through family lives, networks and voluntary work

  10. Who are the Women? • The Executive Committee

  11. Fieldwork • Visits to 5 Federations in Wales, Yorkshire, West Midlands, Essex and Middlesex • Interviewed ..WI members (Focus Groups and in depth interviews) • Circulated questionnaires to all 70 Federation in England and Wales • Circulated additional questionnaires to 24 Institutes

  12. The women represented in the study • Aged between 60-65 (60%) • White - English or Welsh (98%) • Middle class • Live in rural areas (60%) • Teaching and secretarial background • Retired

  13. Benefits of Lifelong Learning at times of transition • “After the death of my husband I don’t know where I would be if it hadn’t been for the support from the WI”

  14. Activities taking place • Monthly WI meetings • Jerusalem • Invited speakers • Practical demonstrations • WI Walks • WI Visits

  15. Increasing Confidence • Membership of the WI gave me the confidence to study for a degree • After gaining a BA in Psychology - at home “I’m suddenly somebody!”

  16. Passing on the traditional skills

  17. “I’m suddenly somebody” • “I was now the President and on my first day out in the village…..’Hello Vera’; ‘How are you Vera?’; ‘Nice to see you Vera’ – Suddenly I was somebody!”

  18. Informal Learning • In the role as Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer • From external Speakers • Drafting resolutions

  19. Informal learning: For enjoyment and friendship!

  20. The WI brings: • opportunities to learn • wider knowledge of interesting subjects • opportunities to learn new skills • sense of belonging • new friends and sense of community • realising what a group of women can do • being myself as a woman • appreciation of others • increase in confidence • awareness of the world around me

  21. Pedagogies and practices of/for (informal) learning • to strive for egalitarian relationships • to try and make all students feel valued • to use the experiences of students as a resource • to question the role and authority of the teacher • to consider personal experience • to consider questions of difference

  22. 5 key areas • A safe environment • Developing confidence • Networking • Taking control of learning • Recognising that learning has taken place

  23. Informal Learning: Drafting resolutions for Annual Conference • Renewable energySport for a healthy population • Fair Trade • What women want Campaign • Care of the Environment • Adult education • Farmgate milk prices • GM foods • Children’s diet • Save rural post offices • Trafficking

  24. How WI members benefit from informal learning • “Enjoyment” • “Better health and keeping active” • “Being seen as a valuable member of society”

  25. Jam, Jerusalem and Calendar Girls

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