NGRF - UK National Guidance Research Forum

Materials which analyse the social practices oriented towards learning within different settings. Topics include opportunities for learning, spaces for learning, expectations for learning and creating supportive learning contexts. Other key areas include:

• use of and access to artefacts, information, knowledge
• pressure of work
• expectations, rewards and punishment
• availability and nature of feedback
• challenge and value of work
• organisation and nature of work
• group learning:     culture of setting;   relationships

Additionally, contexts for learning include schools and colleges, workplaces, training centres, networks, communities and families.

Contexts for learning at work include:

• Meeting context
• ‘on the job’ context
• ‘working alongside’ context
• ‘work encounter’ context

• relationships/ culture
• flows of people and work
• experiences and engagement (of individuals and groups)
• organisational policies and influences
• couplings between learning and work
• 360 degree learning
• learning as an organisation
• roles and influence of tools and technology

materials which examine how organisations learn and for example respond through the design of work. Topics include how job and task design are orientated towards workplace learning, how organisations and systems accommodate new tools, how organisations are managed as environments for learning by enhancing productivity through knowledge development.

This section focuses on and develops our understanding and knowledge of the ways in which learning can be improved. This includes understanding individual approaches to learning, learner needs and engagement in activities that allow them to learn, learning resources including ICT, the role of feedback and assessment to support learnng together with the ways the curriculum can be developed.

Pedagogies for developing learning and learning identities. Topics include modes of interactive support, for example direct teaching and more informal mentoring.

• Addressing factors that hinder learning
• Developing capabilities (of learners and those who support them) for enhancing learning
• Creating contexts that facilitate learning.
• organisational policies and influences
• couplings between learning and work
• 360 degree learning
• learning as an organisation
• roles and influence of tools and technology