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Using
Community Learning to Identify Stores of Social Captital - Have we found
the 'right' Community?
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Lesley Harrison Social capital is a term used to describe the social organisation and productive
synergy underpinning 'community spirit'. The capacity a community has to build
on its community spirit is vital for the health of the community and its continued
existence. Several projects being conducted in Australia are finding that the
practical processes of achieving sustainable outcomes involves the members of
the community as learners - individually, and in groups, working and learning
together. Within the social environment of the community where roles and circumstances
require members to learn from each other and from each others experience 'community
learning' and the interactive processes involved, generate social capital and
contribute to the sustainability of the community.
This paper will present progress report from recent research of a project
that seeks to unravel 'indicators of a 'successful' learning community'. Based
on measures of capacity building, learning activity, group membership and the
stores of social capital - this paper will gauge the likelihood of the community
under study as a best example of a 'learning community'.
University of Tasmania, Australia
e-mail: Lesley.Harrison@utas.edu.au
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