Lifelong Learning : Bangor University Widening Participation through Family Learning Delyth Murphy & Linda Evans Bangor University

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University Families are the main context of learning for most people. Learning within the family is usually more lasting and influential than any other. Family life provides a foundation and context for all learning. ( NIACE, 1995 ) Widening Participation through Family Learning

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University 15% of waking time spent in school Parents/Carers responsible for 85% of a child’s waking time Widening Participation through Family Learning

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University Family learning: *People operate as a family *Learning activities Widening Participation through Family Learning

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University Five elements: *Informal learning within the family *Family members learning together *Learning about roles, relationships and responsibilities in relation to the stages of family life, including parenting education *Learning how to understand, take responsibility and make decisions in relation to wider society, in which the family is a foundation for citizenship *Learning how to deal with agencies that serve families Widening Participation through Family Learning

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University SessionContent 1Introduction What is ICT? What is the Information Society? Introduction to a few standard applications. Discuss how these could be used to support homework 2The Internet What is the Internet? What is the WWW? How to connect? How can the internet support learning? Using a Search engine Search for education resources on the WWW. 3Safety on the Internet Investigate the risks to children on-line, strategies to limit exposure to risk and what to do in the event of suspicious behaviour. Devise acceptable use rules 4Sourcing Educational Resources What types of resources are available? What are the implications of licensing laws? What are freeware and shareware? 5Evaluating Educational Software/Websites What factors influence the value of an educational resource? Compare various resources. Swop and share resources (law permitting) 6What equipment is appropriate Identify the purpose of computer components and peripheral equipment What use can be made of these if any. Install and uninstall software correctly 7The use of ICT in School What is ICT literacy? How is ICT used in school? How is ICT taught to children? 8Social implications of ICT in education Discuss possible negative effects of ICT Discuss how children from a less favoured background may be disadvantaged in relation to ICT Develop strategies that could overcome these problems 9`Limitations of ICT Recognise the limitations of ICT in relation to learning Identify other resources that should be available 10 Work Safely with computers Risks to the computer from viruses etc Health and safety of the user

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University *Languages for Parents *Psychology for Parents Widening Participation through Family Learning

Lifelong Learning : Bangor University Family learning: *People operate as a family *Learning activities Widening Participation through Family Learning

The context Widening Participation through Family Learning

Policy changes Economic downturn NEETS Widening Access Strategies

Widening Participation through Family Learning Adult education in general Paulo Freire

Widening Participation through Family Learning.....every human being, no matter how ‘ignorant’ or submerged in the ‘culture of silence’ he or she may be, is capable of looking critically at the world in a dialogical encounter with others. Provided with the proper tools for such encounter, the individual can gradually perceive personal and social reality as well as the contradictions in it, become conscious of his or her own perception of that reality and deal critically with it’. (Shaull cited in Freire 1996:14)

Widening Participation through Family Learning Education system is part of the problem Educational projects Wider benefits of learning Interactions between students are thought to be central in the formation of tolerant attitudes and active citizenship. (Preston, J and Hammond, C 2002 pp3-5).

* Widening Participation through Family Learning Empowerment could be described as the process of moving to a situation of inclusion. It embraces the idea that everyone has the potential to tackle the consequences of exclusion, but not everyone has the skills, confidence and resources to do so.

Widening Participation through Family Learning Parents/carers as educators Politicising power of adult education Parents/carers as advocates Parents/carers with a ‘voice’ Parents/carers as role models

Widening Participation through Family Learning Adult education and family learning is messy BUT……………..