1 Birkbeck Institute for Lifelong Learning: Innovations in Lifelong Learning, 29th June 2007, Birkbeck College I Feel Like A Human Being And, Most Of All,

1

Birkbeck Institute for Lifelong Learning: Innovations in Lifelong Learning, 29th June 2007, Birkbeck College

“I Feel Like A Human Being And, Most Of All, I Feel In Control Of My Life”: Raising Knowledge, Skills, Confidence and

Aspirations Through Teaching Citizenship in the Community

Adrian Lee & Lesley C Booth, Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of York

2

Presentation Aims

To highlight how innovations in adult community education (ACE) have tapped and sustained students’ academic skills, knowledge, and transferable skills.

To highlight the importance of ‘softer outcomes’ in ACE outreach – especially aspiration raising.

To explore some of the challenges that HE outreach can pose – short-term and longer-term.

3

Background

Funded by ESF ‘Higher Learning in Communities’ and York Settlement Trust

An Aim Higher North Yorkshire Outcome 3 project

Partnership with City of York Council Family Learning Service (FLS)

20 Credits at Level 4 (UG level 1) with optional 10 credit top-up

Specific Citizenship subject strand

Delivery in 3 community learning centres in low-participation/ social ‘disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods

4

Student Profile

46 starters (15 Sep. 06, 31 Jan. 07) 44 women and 2 men Aged 20–69: mean– 35, median– 37, mode– 39.

17 leavers (29 remaining) 4 into employment 3 into another positive outcome 10 no data

Range of prior educational achievements (L2 at least) Range of employment status, largely under-employed Largely low expectations and self-confidence

5

Course Content

Citizenship in the Community – 22 weeks

Top-loaded with study skills training

Confidence building – NIACE Catching Confidence

Learning about and for citizenship

Content tailored to students’ life experiences & interests

What is Crime?Our Population

Multi-culturalism

Parliament & Politicians

Social Justice & InclusionDefining Social Need

Volunteering

The Purpose of Education

CITIZENSHIP

The Local Council

6

Student Stories

Distance travelled

‘Added Value’ – achieving softer outcomes

Gendered stories

In the students’ words…

7

From Essays on Study Skills…

‘Liz’ (38):

When I enrolled I felt that my self-esteem was really low. I only existed as the mother of my two children and not the person that I am, that in the last 7 years my life has been put on hold for the children, that I almost disappeared…

[then talked of lack of confidence to find work]

…Through doing the exercises, realising that I am a confident person, that unless I actually try to send the [application] forms off then I’ll never get anywhere… I started working two weeks ago… and after a week I have been offered a slightly better job within the company. This has given me an amazing boost in confidence…

8

Erika (45):

‘I have spent the last 10 years living in Germany and became quite depressed and isolated not being able to express myself fully or on any deep level in either German or English. This has really affected the way I think and I am able to use my intellect and brain power.

‘I realised how little I am actually involved in current affairs or even aware of what’s going on around me in the world. For a long time I stopped reading newspapers or ever watching the news, but have started to push myself to take an interest in all things around me’.

9

‘Jack’ (39):

‘The course has given me the opportunity to set challenges for myself, which I aim to achieve. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere in the classroom has certainly helped to boost my confidence in speaking out and giving an opinion…

‘Wanting to achieve something has become an attitude I would like to take to all aspects of my life. Hopefully I can take the confidence gained from these classes and use it to achieve greater success socially and academically’.

10

Innovations

Taster sessions and curriculum consultation

Collaborative working

Catching confidence and interactive skills development

Classroom assistant

Local link to national issues

Quizzes, current affairs analysis, activities to empower and discuss issues

Variety of teaching methods and learning tools

Conscious of progression opportunities throughout

11

Challenges

Professional Quality assurance, parity of delivery, informality Marking student work ‘Different’ students?? Collaboration internally and externally

Practical Developing a classroom etiquette Logistics Ownership of space Finance

Ethical Propaganda

versus education Over-raising

aspirations

12

13

Next Steps

Secured further ESF monies

Opportunity to provide variations on a theme in 3 new sites

Developing progression pathways in LLN

VLE and online enhancement to academic activity and student support

Action research evaluation

Using community outreach model in new disciplines

14

Conclusions

Raised Centre profile INTERNALLY & EXTERNALLY

Sound way to realise WP aspirations of HEI

Hostage to fortune – funding and ‘political’ support

Time consuming practicalities

Important means to foster respect among ‘non-traditional’ learners and about WP/outreach work

Delivered what it set out to achieve

Offered progression from FLS provision

Offered return to learning opportunity