UNIT 13: LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • To examine ideas and methods of identifying health issues.
  • To develop a critical awareness of the role of education.
  • To enable people to say what really concerns them.
  • To enable participants to ‘have a go’ at using popular education methods.
Exercise
Number		 Exercises Handouts Approximate Timings
1 Recap from Unit 12 and Introduction to Unit 13 15 mins
2 Getting Below the Surface 30 mins
3 Private Troubles and Public Issues A 30 mins
4 Popular Education B 45 mins
5 Having a Go 45 mins
6 Community Research Update 30 mins
7 Recap and summary Learning Logs 15 mins
Total Time approx. 3 hours 30 mins

UNIT 13: TUTOR SUMMARY NOTES

EXERCISE 1: RECAP FROM UNIT 12 AND INTRODUCTION TO UNIT 13 (15 minutes)

The aim of this exercise is to help the group reflect on what they covered in the last unit.

EXERCISE 2: GETTING BELOW THE SURFACE (30 minutes)

The aim of this exercise is to start to help the group explore how to deal with ‘difficult’ or uncomfortable issues. By this point in the course group members should be comfortable enough with each other to be able to talk openly and frankly about sensitive issues although it could be worthwhile just going over the ground rules again if you feel it is needed.

EXERCISE 3: PRIVATE TROUBLES AND PUBLIC ISSUES (30 minutes)

The piece of writing by C. Wright Mills is very useful in highlighting the difficulties faced sometimes in getting to the root of problems. Encourage people to think of the session in Unit 5 on the different dimensions of power – particularly how people internalise feelings of powerlessness. To help people get into the second part encourage them to talk about values that they cherish and how they would feel if these were threatened. Be aware that discussion about values and principles can become quite ‘deep’ and try to emphasise the importance of being able to recognise and identify values and how these can underpin people’s involvement in community activity.

EXERCISE 4: POPULAR EDUCATION (45 minutes)

The writings and work of Paulo Freire underpin much of the way this course has been put together. If people want to find out more about him and about popular education in practice a good reference link is here.

This is an account of the Gorgie Dalry Adult Learning Project (or ALP) in Edinburgh which was a sustained and systematic attempt at implementing Freire’s ideas in Scotland.

EXERCISE 5: HAVING A GO (45 minutes)

The aim of this exercise is to give participants an opportunity to use some popular education methods. The two examples described are merely indicative. If you know of or use any other methods feel free to introduce them in this exercise.

EXERCISE 6: COMMUNITY RESEARCH PROJECT UPDATE (30 minutes)

The groups should by this stage be nearing completion of their community research projects. This is an opportunity to get an update on progress and identify what still needs to be done.

EXERCISE 7: RECAP AND SUMMARY (15 minutes)

This exercise is to give everyone an opportunity to reflect on what they’ve learned today and indicate any areas of interest that they may want to follow up on.