Discussion 1: Social Construction of Knowledge

Discussion 1: Social Construction of Knowledge

Social construction also known as social constructionism refers to a theory of knowledge in communication and sociology theory that examines the development of jointly constructed understandings of the world which usually forms the basis for shared assumption about reality (Thirteen Ed Online 2004). Constructivism implies that adult learners construct their own knowledge and they usually don not adopt it from outside authority. This plays a critical role in modern approaches to adult basic and higher education. The ways in which adult learners experienced is shaped by their community and social context. Social construction of knowledge in adult education is based on the facts that, adult learning and thinking are social activities and are structured by the tools available in specific situations. Adult learners’, thinking is influenced by the setting in which learning takes place.

Adult education usually encourages learners to examine their lives critically and take action to change social conditions. As adult education program leader, I would inspire social change in adult education by helping them to overcome all those factors that make them to feel socially excluded from their society. I would as well encourage adult learners to create social networks with other societies so as to see how they handle their social problems. This will act as a motivation thus inspiring social change in adult education (Tett & Lyn 2006). Also, I would educate adult learners about the knowledge of community affairs which will encourage interest in local development, social issues and critical debate, leading to participation in community development and bringing about social change in adult education.

References

Tett & Lyn (2006). Community Education, Lifelong Learning & Social Inclusion. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.

Thirteen Ed Online (2004). Constructivism as a paradigm for teaching and learning. http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html