The Importance of Family Learning in Progressing Lifelong Learning

This is the findings of a presentation as part of a report on the proceedings of a seminar in Sligo from 2009. The title of the seminar was “Early Childhood Care and Education & Family Learning”. This was organised by Pobal – a not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU. The presentation “The Importance of Family Learning in Progressing Lifelong Learning” was given by Ms Karen Cholmeley-Fairfa, Senior Project Officer in Family Learning and was based on the experience of National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, UK.
The presentation provides a focus on the role of home culture and practice in
developing family learning and the link with lifelong learning. The presentation provides an initial definition of family learning and then presents the family learning pedagogical approach that she works with. She notes some of the key approaches involved in this, including the promotion of the family as a learning environment, building on home culture and experience, etc. The presentation then identifies the results of the Learning Revolution for informal adult learning. The presentation then provides a number of group activities, including:
– The ORIM model of family learning
– Literacy activities
– The Family Learning Pedagogical Approach as a 3rd space