Developing People's Ability To Learn. European Perspectives on Self-Learning Competency and ...

194 Pages·2012·2.64 MB·English

DOCUMENT RESUME
CE 062 055
ED 355 333
Nyhan, Barry
AUTHOR
Developing People's Ability To Learn. European
TITLE
Perspectives on Self-Learning Competency and
Technological Change.
EUROTECNET Technical Assistance Office, Brussels
INSTITUTION
(Belgium).
ISBN-90-5201-022
REPORT NO
91
PUB DATE
195p.
NOTE
565, B-1180,
European University Press, rue Engeland
AVAILABLE FROM
Brussels, Belgium.
Books (010)
PUB TYPE
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EDRS PRICE
Adult Learning; Competency Based EC..cation; Computer
DESCRIPTORS
*Educational
Uses in Education; Educational Change;
*Education Work
Improvement; Educational Philosophy;
Reletionship; Foreign Countries; Futures (of
Society); *Lifelong Learning; Models; *Organizational
*Self
Development; Postsecondary Education;
Actualization; Technological Advancement
European Community; *EUROTECNET
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This book outlines the process and outcomes of the
that was
EUROTECNET Self-Learning Competency research project
designed to promote
launched in 1989. (EUROTECNET is a program
Community to
educational responses that will enable the European
workplace.) Part I,
create technological innovations in the
Workforce, has
Technological Change and the Need for a Self-Learning
Competency and
six chapters: "EUROTECNET Enquiry on Self-Learning
Cooperative
Technological Change"; "The Enquiry Process: A
Entails a
Self-Learning Experience"; "Technological Revolution
of the Self-Learning
Knowledge and a Learning Revolution"; "Profile
Self-Learning: Training
Knowledge Worker"; "Organisations for
European
Institutes and Enterprises"; and "Taking Steps towards a
comprise part II,
Self-Learning Community" (Caspar). Eight chapters
Paradigm: "The Self-Learning
Issues Surrounding the New Learning
Involved" (Carre);
Gamble: An Examination of the Issues
in the Federal
"Self-Learning Competency: Approaches and Experiences
Learners: The
Republic of Germany" (Bahr); "Developing Skilled
Kingdom" (Pearn, Downs);
Experience of ICI and Shell in the United
Training" (Feldmann et
"New Starting Points for European Vocational
of an Overall
al.); "The Need for Self-Learning Organisations as Part
of
Business/Management Strategy" (Pedler); "The Utilization
Learning Issue"
Information Technology: A Management Perspective on a
Necessity for the
(Docherty); "The Self-Qualifying Organisation: A
"Vocational Training Requirements
Future of Europe" (Talpaert); and
View Point" (Steinleitner).
within a Company Context: A Trade Union
Challenge" urges action to convert
In conclusion, "Facing up to the
The book contains a list of
the self-learning model into a reality.
book. (Contains 125
the names and addresses of contributors to the
references.)
(KC)
E
Ht. %IAV RESOI. RUES
EDUCATION
TRAINING
YOUTH
DEVELOPING
PEOPLE'S ABILITY
TO LEARN
A European Perspective
on Self-Learning Competency
and Technological Change
by
Barry Nyhan
U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
0 Eau, al.rna Resew, n and I,.-c,ovenen
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
CENTER IERIC.
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IONAL RESOURCES
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TO THE EDU
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
Developing People's
Ability to Learn
European Perspectives
and
on Self-learning Competency
Technological Change
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barry Nyhan is a Senior Consultant at
Technical
EUROTECNET
the
Assistance Office in Brussels. He is a
in new forms of human
specialist
has
development
and
resource
consultant
on
worked
as
a
international projects concerned with
development,
training
and
and
organisational change.
Barry Nyhan was born
Cork.
in
Ireland and has a Masters Degree in
College.
Trinity
Education
from
Dublin.
4
s-
Barry
Nyhan
EUROTECNET
A Community Programme to promote Innovation
in Vocational Training
Resulting from Technological Change
People's
Deite loping
Ability to Learn
European Perspectives
Competency and
on Self-Learning
Technological Change
EUROPEAN INTERUNIVERSITY PRESS
Brussels
1991
5
This book is published by the EUROTECNET Technical Assistance
Office, on behalf of the Commission of the European Communities, Task
Force Human Resources, Education, Training and Youth. Opinions
contained in this book are those of their authors and do
not necessary
represent the official position of the Commission or the Member States.
No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form, by print,
photocopy,
of
microfilm
other means, without
'ny
prior
written
permission from the publishers.
ISBN 90-5201-022
D/1991/5678/01
© Commission of the European Communities.
PREFACE
Programme aims to promote innovation in
EUROTECNET
The
goal could
vocational training resulting from technological change.
impact of the programme has to
seem rather abstract at first sight, but the
problems. This book is a
do with developing practical solutions to global
modesty in scope
perfect illustration of this fact. In spite of its apparent
results
EUROTECNET's
and budget for a Community wide programme,
is already
it
will have a far-reaching influence in the long term, as
chance to directly
recognised by many of those who have had the
participate in its different activities.
the results of a
We are very pleased to present in this publication
the
by
undertaken
project
animation
and
research
particular
Programme, which has opened new perspectives on
EUROTECNET
change. The book
vocational training in a period of rapid technological
in many respects, not only in its
we are publishing here is original
which is has been brought about.
content, but also in the method through
of Community Training
It illustrates one of the unexpected impacts
people from many
Programmes which consist in bringing together
build together
different origins, cultures and educational backgrounds, to
action.
a conceptual framework for future common
the need of finding
This particular project was launched to respond to
order to adapt the work force to the new
new methods of learning in
be developed to
challenges of technology. If knowledge and skills are to
there is no
keep up with the pace of contemporary technological progress,
workers themselves, an
better way to do it than by developing, within the
position to learn by
ability to learn continuously, so that they will be in a
work place. The
themselves spontaneously, right where they are, at the
change does not consist
training answer to the challenge of technological
training activities,
therefore, in increasing the number of ad-hoc external
which workers v. ;11 learn by
but seeing to it that the conditions through
environment. The final
themselves are created within their working
5
answer is that which the author of this volume has defined as a "self-
learning competency" (SLC), and the "self-learning organisation".
But this g ..al could not have been achieved through a simple desk
research activity, by intellectual isolated brain-storming in some hidden
refuge. This is where the EUROTECNET methods took
over, through
which the living network of transnational innovatory projects, on which the
activities of the programme are based, played its full role. The development
of the concept of "self-learning competency" was thus secured by the
common work of many who, jumping into the project at different times of
its discovery trip, directly contributed to the common building of the
concept and its application. Like most of the time in the education and
training field, new methods and innovation are not the result of deductive
discourses. but rather of the inductive work of many people building
new
ideas based on experimental approaches and living experiences. Training
practitioners. coming from both training institutions and companies. experts
and researchers, joined in this Community wide undertaking. This book is
the result of that common effort. The readers are now invited to join in
a
similar discovery by means of a fascinating read.
While many have been involved, we would like to thank especially
Barry NYHAN Senior Consultant, EUROTECNET Technical Assistance
Office who, with the enthusiasm and conviction of a discoverer, was able to
animate the whole exercise, forging embryonic ideas to launch the debate.
formulating assumptions, reformulating concepts as the joint effort
was
progressing, animating workshops and leading the participants in the
common
self-learning
experience
which
has
characterised
the
developement of the SLC concept. Whilst far from being the only author of
this book, Barry NYHAN deserves to sign it for, and on behalf of the other
contributors, in recognition of the key role he has played in bringing the
whole project to a successful conclusion.
Let us hope that
to the
this
further contribute
publication
will
improvement of vocational training methods and activities within the
Community, and bring about the changes which are needed for Europe to
face the challenges of the future.
The EUROTECNET programme will
thus have fulfilled its particular role among the training programmes of the
Community.
The EUROTECNET TEAM
Technical Assistance Office
6
Contents
5
Preface
Part I
Technological Change and the Need for a Self-Learning
Workforce
Section One
The EUROTECNET Search for a New Learning Paradigm
EUROTECNET Enquiry on Self- Learning
Chapter 1
Competency and Technological Change
20
The Enquiry Process : A Cooperative
Chapter 2
Self-Learning Experience
Section Two
The Self-Learning Competency Paradigm
34
Technological Revolution Entails
Chapter 3
a Knowledge and a Learning Revolution
42
Profile of the Self-Learning Knowledge
Chapter 4
Worker
51
Organisations for Self-Learning :
Chapter 5
Training Institutes and Enterprises
Taking Steps Towards a European
Chapter 6
Self-Learning Community
Pierre Caspar
Part II
Issues Surrounding the New Learning Paradigm
Section Three
Methodological Issues
74
The Self-Learning Gamble: An Examination
Chapter 7
of the Issues Involved
Philippe Carre
7
Chapter 8
Self-Learning Competency: Approaches and
82
Experiences in the Federal Republic
of Germany
Wilhelm Bahr
Chapter 9
Developing Skilled Learners: The Experience
96
of ICI and SHELL in the United Kingdom
Michael Pearn and Sylvia Downs.
Chapter 10
New Starting Points for European Vocational
108
Training
Birgitt Feldmann, Jorg Kluger and Jochen
Langenbeck
Section Four
Organisational and Management Issues
Chapter 11
The Need for Self Learning Organisations
128
as part of an Overall Business/Management
Strategy
Mike Pedler
Chapter 12
The Utilization of Information Technology :
141
A Management Perspective on a Learning
Issue
Peter Docherty
Section Five
The Development of European Continuous Learning Systems
Chapter 13
The Self-Qualifying Organisation :
160
A Necessity for the Future of Europe
Roger Talpaert
Chapter 14
Problems of Vocational Training within
177
a Company Context : A Trade Union Viewpoint
Karl Steinleitner
In Conclusion
Facing up to the Challange
182
Annex One
List of Conti ibutors
185
Annex Two
References and Further Reading
186
8
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