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ERIC Number: EJ952252
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Nov
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1443-1394
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Response to "An Experiment in Method" (J. L. J. Wilson)
Stehlik, Tom
Australian Journal of Adult Learning, v50 n3 p609-613 Nov 2010
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.
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
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A