Synopses & Reviews
As interest grows in theories of lifelong learning not only across society but also as an area of serious academic study, the need has arisen for a thorough and critical study of the phenomenon. This distillation of the work of renowned writer Peter Jarvis addresses this need, looking at the processes involved in human learning from birth to old age and moving the field on from previous unsystematic and mainly psychological studies. Instead, Jarvis argues that learning is existential, and so its study must be complex and interdisciplinary.
The result is a giant step towards building a complete and integrated theory of how humans learn, taking account of existing theories to see if they can be reconciled with a more complex model. Applying his expert analytical approach to this wide-ranging topic, Jarvis looks in detail at:
- learning in the social context
- the transformation of experience
- the outcomes of learning
- learning and action
- cognitive theories
- emotions and learning
- experiential learning.
Synopsis
In recent years the idea of lifelong learning and the learning society has become central to both society and to everyone involved in education throughout the world but, as yet, no truly exhaustive study has been made of these phenomena. This ground-breaking distillation of Peter Jarvis' thoughts on lifelong learning will comprehensively correct that omission.
This book, the first in a forthcoming series, concentrates on the processes of human learning and considers the fact that research into learning itself has hitherto been unsystematic and, for a while, mainly psychological. In the first section of this book the author argues that learning is existential, and so its study must be complex and interdisciplinary. A number of the existing theories of learning are then critically examined, in order to see how they can be reconciled with a more complex model. Applying his expert analytical approach to this wide-ranging topic Professor Jarvis looks in detail at
- Learning in the social context
- The transformation of experience
- The outcomes of learning
- Cognitive theories
- Emotions and learning
- Experiential learning
Although it is acknowledged from the outset that a totally comprehensive theory of learning is not possible, the ultimate goal of this book (and its forthcoming companion volumes) is nothing less than an endeavor to construct an integrated but critical theory of lifelong learning and the learning society.
It will be essential reading for students in education, HRD and teaching and learning generally, in addition to academics and informed practitioners.