‘Remaking Adult Learning’ book launch Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 10:52

Remaking Adult Learning - published jointly by the Institute of Education (IOE) and NIACE - launched at an event at the Institute of Education, in London on Thursday 20 January. The book is a tribute to Alan Tuckett's commitment to the lifelong learning field since the 1970s. Professor Tuckett is to retire in August 2011, after 23 years leading NIACE.

The book's authors - from across the adult learning landscape - say the goals of adult education should be broadened, so that learning becomes an integral part of work.

"Workplaces should be seen as places of learning," says Professor Lorna Unwin, of the IOE. She urges a shift away from the focus on formal learning, where job-specific training is bolted on to people's workloads. Instead, learning of all types should permeate the workplace.

She explains:

"Learning through everyday productivity on the job has been shown to be the most effective."

Co-editor of the book and visiting professorial fellow at the IOE, Ursula Howard, believes that over the past 30 years too much emphasis has been placed on narrow economic goals, at the expense of the type of learning that would actually benefit companies at least as much.

"Skills and qualifications for the labour market have been too narrowly defined," she says. "Broader, more inclusive forms of adult learning are required, which many employers themselves often say are needed."

The key to a more effective model of adult learning is greater flexibility, according to Jay Derrick, another co-editor. He echoes Alan Tuckett's view that it is important to "encompass the ‘messiness' and ‘untidiness' of people's lives" - that every class will have its own particular needs and requirements, and the teachers of adult learning must adapt to these.

He explains how recent research shows that at times teachers need to be able to abandon their plans when necessary and "go with the teachable moment".

A brave new approach to adult learning is needed, says Peter Lavender, NIACE Deputy Chief Executive:

"Now is the time for making the most of adult learning and for learning from the past. Remaking Adult Learning raises questions about participation, social movements, public policy and the power of teaching and learning to change lives. The Institute of Education's event will explore some of these questions. Now is the time for imagination too."