Demonstrating what it is like to be an adult learner in today's world, this book focuses on language, literacy and numeracy learning. The authors explore the complex relationship between learning and adults' lives, following a wide range of individual students in various formal learning situations, from college environments to a young homeless project, and a drug support and aftercare centre.

The study is rooted in a social practices approach and examines how people's lives shape their learning. Themes addressed range from: how literacy is learned through participation and how barriers such as violence and ill-health impact on people's lives. Based on a major research project and detailed, reflexive and collaborative methodology, the book describes a coherent strategy of communication and impact which will have a direct effect on policy and practice

Autorentext

David Barton, Roz Ivanic, Yvon Appleby, Rachel Hodge and Karin Tusting have worked together on a range of projects based in the Literacy Research Centre at Lancaster University. Key titles by the authors include Local Literacies (Routledge, 1998), Situated Literacies (Routledge, 1999) and Beyond Communities of Practice

Inhalt

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The Context of Adults' Learning; Chapter 3 Literacy, Lives and Learning as Social Practice; Chapter 4 Situating Adult Learners' Lives; Chapter 5 A Collaborative and Responsive Methodology; Chapter 6 Literacies in People's Lives; Chapter 7 Literacy and Learning for Life Purposes; Chapter 8 WAys of Part Icipating in Classes; Chapter 9 The Negotiation of Teaching and Learning in Classes; Chapter 10 What People Bring to Learning Settings; Chapter 11 The Negotiation of Learning in Community Settings; Chapter 12 Life Careers; Chapter 13 Towards a Social Practice Pedagogy;