Experiential learning through seeing, doing, and peer-to-peer learning are key ways that people learn in community groups. However, there are challenges to community learning, including an emphasis on individualized and vocational learning over collective learning. Additionally, the ability to effectively share knowledge between peers, a lack of learning opportunities, and complexity in political systems can hamper community learning. Personal challenges also exist in transitioning from learning to taking action outside of state agendas.

1. Seeing and Doing:
Learning in
Community Groups
Funded by:
Hosted by:
Supporting Community Action: Lessons from
Australia and the UK
Angus McCabe: Third Sector Research Centre
25th September 2013

2. How People Learn
in Community Groups
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Experiential learning: seeing and doing
Peer to peer learning
Drawing on other work/life experiences
Networked learning: face to face – but on line/social
media?
• Opportunities for collective reflection and
development
• Not formalised training – except when required – eg
safeguarding (cf Capacity Builders etc etc)

3. Challenges to Community Learning
• Emphasis on individualised/vocational learning: the ‘death of
a radical tradition’? (Westoby and Shevellar: 2012)
• A false divide between ‘learning’ and ‘training’?
• Accreditation of ‘the individual’ versus the collective or
‘complimentary skills’ in group development
• Ability of peers to share knowledge and expertise effectively
• Lack of opportunity
• The ‘value’ or ‘currency’ of collective learning
• Complexity – political systems, legislation, management….
• The personal risks of learning for action……..

4. Personal Challenges
• From seeing/learning to ‘doing’; community groups outside
the state and community development agendas
• ‘There’s a lot to learn from wasting time. There’s a heart that
burns. There’s an open mind’ (Neil Young)
• ‘Rise up with me against the organisation of misery’ (Pablo
Neruda)