More on non formal learning
01-July-2005
permalink email thisFrank says that his son wants those skills to be visible and recognized by his peer group. Quite obviously his son can also validate that learning - he has the CD to show he has those skills and competences.
I'm in Bucharest for a workshop organised by the EU funded ICOVET project. the project is looking at the validation of non formal learning for socially disadvantaged young people. It is extremely interesting - and important - in that it raises in a concrete way many of the issues involved in the on-going debate over the design and implementation of e-portfolios.
I have just participated in a working group looking at “the main issues, questions, critical points' related to the validation of non-formal and informal learning.”
Technorati Tags: e-portfolios, non formal learning, pedagogy
Extended text for this entry:
Frank Braun from the BundesJugendsInstitute in Germany put forward an interesting story. His son has just released a CD from his punk band. Frank was amused to note that although his son was only listed as the guitar player, the photo accompanying the sleeve notes made it very clear he was the boss. We went on to look at the implications for non formal learning. Obviously, Frank';s son has leant a great deal through producing the CD - skills and competences in management and production as well as in music. these skills and competences are unrelated to his formal school studies. Frank says that his son wants those skills to be visible and recognized by his peer group. Quite obviously his son can also validate that learning - he has the CD to show he has those skills and competences. But he is not interested in formal accreditation. However, as Frank says, his son will add this achievement to his Curriculum Vitae, and increasingly employers in Germany, it seems, are more interested in achievements documented through the CV than in formal school qualifications.
What does this suggest for the design of e-portfolios? For me it underlies the need for open systems allowing learners to document and present their own experiences, rather than more restrictive and highly structured systems like OSPI.
NB The name of the band is Destination Failure and the CD is called Gleis 2 - go give them a try.
Linking and trackbacks
When linking to this weblog entry, please use the 'permalink', which is http://www.knownet.com/writing/weblogs/Graham_Attwell/entries/6816305672
