Response to "An Experiment in Method" (J. L. J. Wilson)

Autor/in	Stehlik, Tom
Titel	Response to "An Experiment in Method" (J. L. J. Wilson)
Quelle	In: Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 50 (2010) 3, S.609-613 (5 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1443-1394
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Group Discussion; Adult Education; Problem Solving; Adult Learning; Cooperative Education; Workshops; Whites; Indigenous Populations; Professional Development; Lecture Method; Teaching Methods; Educational History; Foreign Countries; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Gruppendiskussion; Adult; Adults; Education; Adult basic education; Adult training; Erwachsenenbildung; Problemlösen; Adulte education; Kooperativer Unterricht; Lernwerkstatt; Schulung; White; Weißer; Sinti und Roma; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; History of education; Bildungsgeschichte; Ausland; Australien
Abstract	This article presents the author's response to "An Experiment in Method" by J.L.J. Wilson. In 1960-61 Wilson was invited to give lectures on "modern techniques in adult education" as part of a training school for those involved in the work of developing "Co-operatives for Aborigines" which were sponsored by the Australian Board of Missions--the national mission agency of the Anglican Church in Australia, and an organisation that is still active. In Wilson's own words, the school "consisted of two courses for two groups--one for aborigines, the other for European teachers, administrators and missionaries working in aboriginal settlements." To his credit, Wilson decided that lecturing either of the groups on modern techniques in adult education was inappropriate, and instead conducted what he considered at the time to be "an experiment in method"--a problem-solving approach based on group discussion using the knowledge and experience brought by the participants to an issue that was meaningful and relevant to them. The article therefore consists of a report of these sessions, with Wilson's reflections and questions on the relevance of this method more generally to adult education, compared with that of the "ordinary lecture-discussion session." The author points out that the article: (1) presents a historical snapshot of a moment in adult education in Australia when an argument was being presented for the importance of introducing group methods in teaching adults--"Americans have been doing it for years"; and (2) gives a fascinating account of a non-Indigenous Australian grappling with ways to describe his experiences of working with a group of Indigenous Australians from different urban and rural areas and language groups. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Adult Learning Australia. Level 1, 32 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2603, Australia. Tel: +61-02-6274-9515; Fax: +61-02-6274-9513; Web site: http://www.ala.asn.au
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10