Article 2008

Learning throughout working life: A relational interdependence between personal and social agency

British Journal of Educational Studies
Journal · Vol. 56 · Issue 1 · pp. 39-58
Abstract

Individuals actively and continually construct the knowledge required for their working lives. Two outcomes arise from this constructive process: (i) individual change (i.e. learning) and (ii) the remaking of culturally-derived practices comprising work. These arise through a relational interdependence between the contributions and agency of the personal and the social. The relationship is interdependent because neither the social nor personal contributions alone are sufficient. The social experience is important for articulating and providing access to work performance requirements. However, personal factors such as individuals' capacities, subjectivities and agency shape how workers interpret and engage with what they experience and, consequently, how they learn and remake practice throughout their working life. This case is elaborated through a discussion about learning with considerations of intersubjectivity, personal epistemologies, pedagogy and curriculum as experience. © 2008 SES. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Professional Development Interdependence and learning Learning for work Personal and social contributions to learning Social and personal agency

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
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