ADULT L EARNING
Long live community learning EDUCAT ION SPOTL IGHT ZOE SWEET, ADULT LEARN AND TRAIN OFFICER AT CAMBRIDGE ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIP, ON WHY WE SHOULD VALUE EDUCATION BEYOND OUR SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY DAYS
dult learning has been popular for many decades, since Henry Morris first championed community learning in the
1920s, during a time of depression in the UK. Community and adult learning has been a gateway for adults, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills out of the workplace, start or develop new hobbies and interests, and update their CVs. Community learning has benefited from a rich heritage of provision, with courses on offer varying from formal GCSE qualifications to beekeeping and horticultural. Adult learners experience great enjoyment from undertaking a course, even when this may involve personal challenges. The tutors are knowledgeable, helpful, thoughtful and intuitive, as well as talented, and provide a supportive environment in which to learn. Having an inspiring tutor helps learners achieve great things, both in and outside of the classroom, while the tutors themselves gain professional satisfaction from seeing the learner thrive and from sharing their passion for the subject. Nowadays, if you need to learn how to do something, you are more than likely to find a tutorial on YouTube. It appeals to many as it is so convenient, it’s free and you can view it whenever you want, and without leaving the comfort of your house. Adult learning offers much more than just acquiring a new skill – you do not just learn an instruction, you learn how, why, when. If you don’t understand the way something is taught, the tutor will adjust and show you in a different way. We all have different learning styles – visual, auditory, reading, writing and kinaesthetic. It’s why excellent classroom-based learning is so effective. As Benjamin Franklin famously explained: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Cambridge Academic Partnership. Many adults who travel into Cambridge for work choose to take the opportunity of a class in the evening, with the added bonus of avoiding Cambridge rush hour! Adult Learn and Train is always striving to improve its service; this year you will find courses relevant to what is going on in the world, for example politics or climate change. You will not only find the old favourites such as dressmaking, DIY, Italian and flower arranging but new, one- off sessions during the week in cookery, Christmas wreath making, eco beeswax wrappers and more. Just as your local post office, libraries and shops rely on community use to continue to offer essential services, community learning is no different. Without your support, it may cease to prosper. Get involved, see what is on offer, and if you have any suggestions or comments, contact your local centre.
Many people have relied on courses for mental stimulation, stress relief, friendship, and the achievement and satisfaction they bring. Having a regular activity has been shown to decrease feelings of loneliness and improve mental health. In the current economic climate it has been a challenging time for adult learning across Cambridgeshire: most funding has been reallocated to other priorities and people do not want to spend their hard-earned disposable incomes while times are so uncertain. Recently, Cambridgeshire has witnessed community learning provision diminishing, and although there are challenges ahead, the providers who are still delivering are evolving, they are listening and looking at trends, and adjusting normal course patterns to appeal to learners. Centrally based in this thriving city you’ll find Adult Learn and Train,
113
C A M B S E D I T I O N . C O . U K
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9
Powered by FlippingBook