ERIC Number: EJ1071813
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Mar
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1874-785X
EISSN: N/A
Understanding Learning Culturally: Overcoming the Dualism between Social and Individual Views of Learning
Hodkinson, Phil; Biesta, Gert; James, David
Vocations and Learning, v1 n1 p27-47 Mar 2008
This paper identifies limitations within the current literature on understanding learning. Overcoming these limitations entails replacing dualist views of learning as either individual or social, by using a theory of learning cultures and a cultural theory of learning, which articulate with each other. To do this, we argue that it is possible and indeed necessary to combine major elements of participatory or situated views of learning with elements of Deweyan embodied construction. Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and field are used to achieve this purpose, together with the use of "becoming" as a metaphor to help understand learning more holistically. This theorizing has a predominantly heuristic purpose, and we argue that it enables researchers to better explain data. We also suggest that a cultural approach of the sort proposed here leads toward the asking of better questions about learning and its improvement and has high practical significance.
Descriptors: Learning Theories, Holistic Approach, Heuristics, Student Development, Educational Researchers, Cultural Context
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A