Basic Research on Lifelong Learning: Recent Survey Findings and Reflections on

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Basic Research on Lifelong Learning Recent
Survey Findings and Reflections on Capturing
Informal LearningKeynote presentation to
"Research methods in informal and mobile
learning How to get the data we really want"
Workshop, Work-Based Learning for Education
Centre, Institute of Education, University of
London, Friday 14 December, 2007

• D. W. LIVINGSTONE
• Canada Research Chair in Lifelong Learning and
  Work, Head, Centre for the Study of Education
  and Work,
• Director, WALL Research Network
• OISE/UT, University of Toronto

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The Centre for the Study of Education and Work

• The Centre for the Study of Education and Work
  (CSEW) brings together academics, labour
  educators and community partners to understand
  and enrich the often undervalued informal and
  formal learning of working people.
• The CSEW develops research and teaching programs
  on learning and work. It promotes policy
  initiatives and public events connected to both
  the paid and unpaid workplace, in traditional and
  new media for learningwww.learningwork.ca

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WALL SURVEYChanging Nature of Work and Lifelong
Learning

• Canadian Research Network established by SSHRC
  under Collaborative Research Initiatives on the
  New Economy www.wallnetwork.ca
• Includes 2004 national survey of 9,063 randomly
  selected respondents over 18 on many issues of
  working conditions and adult learning
• Study Builds on research completed by New
  Approaches to Lifelong Learning Research Network
  www.nall.ca
• This survey was conducted as part of the The
  Changing Nature of Work and Lifelong Learning in
  the New Economy National and Case Study
  Perspectives, a research network
  (www.wallnetwork.ca) supported by the Social
  Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
  Canada from 2003 to 2007.

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WALL CASE STUDIESChanging Nature of Work and
Lifelong Learning

• Women's Alternative and Informal Learning
  Pathways to Jobs in Information Technology Jen
  Liptrot Shauna Butterwick
• Immigrant Workers Learning to Labour in
  Canada Rights and Organizing Strategies Eric
  Shragge
• Housework and Care Work Sites for Lifelong
  Learning Margrit Eichler
• The Informal Learning of Volunteer Workers
  Daniel Schugurensky
• The School-to-Work Youth Transition Process
  Alison Taylor, S. Clifford D.W. Livingstone
• Critical Transitions Between Work and
  Learning Projects throughout the Life Course
  Pierre Doray and Paul Bélanger
• Labour Education Action Research from an
  Equality Perspective Nancy Jackson and Winnie
  Ng

• Organizational Change and Worker Learning
  in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals Paul
  Bélanger
• Skill Acquisition and Labour Market
  Experience of At-Risk Workers in Steel, Light
  Manufacturing and Nursing Homes Anil Verma
  Jorge Garcia-Orgales
• Technological Change and Worker Learning in
  the Public Sector Peter H. Sawchuk
• The Effects of Changing Working Conditions
  and Government Policy on Canadian Teachers'
  Formal and Informal Learning Practices Harry
  Smaller, R. Clark D. W. Livingstone
• Doing Disability at the Bank Discovering the
  Work and Informal Learning/Teaching Done by
  Disabled Bank Employees Kathryn Church, M.
  Panitch, C. Frazee

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Formal Educational Attainment by Adult Education
Courses and Informal Learning
Taken adult education past year () Taken adult education past year () Done Informal learning () Done Informal learning ()
Year 1998 2004 1998 2004
No Diploma 18 23 81 80
HS Diploma 53 48 97 94
College 58 52 97 96
University 70 63 99 96
TOTAL () 43 45 92 91
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
Including current students.
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Formal Educational Attainment by Adult Education
Courses and Informal Learning
Done Informal learning ()
Taken adult education past year ()
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
Including current students.
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Age by Participation in Further Education and
Informal Learning
Taken Further Education Course in Past Year Taken Further Education Course in Past Year Do Any Informal Learning Do Any Informal Learning Avg. Hours Informal Learning / Week Avg. Hours Informal Learning / Week
1998 2004 1998 2004 1998 2004
Age Hours Hours
18-24 67 65 99 95 23 17
25-34 53 55 94 96 17 16
35-44 55 51 97 95 17 13
45-54 46 48 94 94 15 13
55-64 25 34 84 88 12 12
65 10 15 79 77 12 13
Total 44 45 92 91 16 14
N 1533 8772 1538 8772 1422 7348
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
Average hours exclude those reporting no
informal learning.
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Age by Any Informal Learning
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
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Topics of Job-related Informal Learning, Employed
Labour Force Participating in Informal Learning,
1998-2004
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
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Housework-Related Informal Learning Topics,
Eligible Participants, 1998-2004
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
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Volunteer Work-Related Informal Learning Topics,
Eligible Participants, 1998-2004
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
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General Interest Informal Learning Topics, All
Respondents, 1998-2004
Sources NALL Survey, 1998 WALL Survey, 2004.
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References

• Livingstone, D.W. (2001). Basic Patterns of Work
  and Learning in Canada Findings of the 1998
  NALL Survey of Informal Learning and Related
  Statistics Canada Surveys. Working Paper 33.
  www.nall.ca
• Livingstone, D.W. (2004). The Education Jobs Gap
  Underemployment or Economic Democracy. (2nd
  ed.). Toronto Garamond Press.
• Livingstone, D.W. (2006). Informal learning
  Conceptual distinctions and preliminary findings.
  In Z. Bekerman, N.C. Burbules, D.
  Silberman-Keller (Eds.), Learning in places The
  informal education reader. (pp. 202-226). New
  York, NY Peter Lang.
• Livingstone, D. W. Sawchuk, P. (2004). Hidden
  Knowledge Organized Labour in the Information
  Age. Toronto Garamond Press, Boulder Rowman
  Littlefield.
• Livingstone, D.W., Scholtz, A. (2006). Work and
  lifelong learning in Canada Basic findings of
  the 2004 WALL survey. Toronto. OISE/UT, CSEW.
  80pp. Available at www.wallnetwork.ca.

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Contact

• D. W. LIVINGSTONE
• Canada Research Chair in Lifelong Learning and
  Work,
• Head, Centre for the Study of Education and
  Work,Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
  of theUniversity of Toronto
• dlivingstone_at_oise.utoronto.ca
• www.wallnetwork.ca