Learning and Teaching for Transformation Initiative

This initiative relies on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to foster sharing of experiences, case studies, stories, methods, materials and concepts relevant to the theme of learning and teaching for transformation. An initial concept note was circulated to teachers and development practitioners in May 2002 along with an invitation to join the discussion. Divided thematically, the 8 focal topics are: power and hierarchy, assessment and evaluation, concepts and theories, action research, experiential learning, curriculum development, and personal reflection.

The dialogue strives for collective ownership, while providing a network of support to participation, collaboration, and community development across and within all levels of the education system. It advocates forms of learning that are grounded in the principles and practices of participatory development and action research, and seeks to encourage these forms through the sharing and generation of both theory and practice.

The LTT webspace is a venue for sharing ideas and reflections emerging from the dialogue. This space aims to bridge the global with the local, allowing the integration of local knowledge, needs, and priorities into international agendas. Another purpose of this space is the collective development of a platform for action learning and research based on the themes and voices raised in previous dialogues.

Face-to-face exchanges are also part of the dialogue process; IDS is convening an international workshop in April 2005 specifically to bring together global actors to design a proactive research agenda together. Click here for details about this event.

Education.

Organisers note that participation is perceived as having "the potential to reduce poverty and social injustice by strengthening citizen rights and voice, influencing policy making, enhancing local governance, and improving the accountability and responsiveness of institutions. But participation requires learning, and hence changes in behaviour, attitudes and power relationships by everyone involved. What are the relationships between education, participation and social change? What needs to be learned, and how, in order to achieve transformation of individuals and society? And where and with what means should such learning be convened?"

Asking such questions, this initiative began as a dialogue on Learning and Teaching Participation (LTP) in institutions of higher learning, in April 2002. Hosted by IDS, the original purpose of the dialogue was to enable institutions of higher learning to share experiences to the end of developing and delivering more effective education programmes and to contribute to a wider transformation of individuals, institutions, and society.