Abstract
Links between learning theories, action and practice are explored in order to focus on the idea of action-oriented learning theories. The nature of learning theories is examined and their role in changing practices associated with issues of food and farming systems or resource management. Levels and cycles are distinguished as key dimensions of learning theories that can be used in designing learning programmes using individual or group-based approaches. The relationship between learning, change and practice is considered and which kinds of learning theory might be used in different situations in which issues of change are to be addressed. Examples are provided from the European LEARNing project. Difficulties are revealed in whether and how ‘learning researchers’ make explicit their theoretical perspectives in relation to issues of learning and change in given situations. A conceptual framework is therefore developed, intended to be used as a heuristic device to support researchers in reviewing their perspectives.
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Notes
- 1.
LEARNing in European Agricultural and Rural Networks: institutions, networks and governance (Contract no. HPSE-CT-2002-60059) was an interdisciplinary project involving eight European countries and Australia. It ran from 2002 to 2005. Based on interactive approaches and stakeholders’ participation, the project aimed to build a research agenda for social sciences on R&D in European agriculture. The main emphasis was to engage stakeholders in a new way of learning to tackle emerging issues like multifunctionality, food safety, rural development, and environment.
- 2.
For countries like France, different situations of change were selected.
- 3.
Seven country teams took part in this stage of the LEARNing project.
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Acknowledgements
We wish to acknowledge the special group of people who constituted the LEARNing project. Their critical engagement, personal warmth and friendship made all that is written here possible. They included: Christophe Albaladejo, Isabelle Avelange, Marc Barbier, Rémi Barré, Marco Barzmann, Nathalie Couix, Nathalie Girard, Bernard Hubert, Janice Jiggins, Sofie Kobayashi, Alex Koutsouris, Jozsef Kozari, Catherine Mougenot, Jet Proost, Ewa Rockika, Niels Röling, Nadarajah Sriskadarajah, Pierre Stassart, Patrick Steyaert and Severine van Bommel.
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Blackmore, C., Cerf, M., Ison, R., Paine, M. (2012). The role of action-oriented learning theories for change in agriculture and rural networks. In: Darnhofer, I., Gibbon, D., Dedieu, B. (eds) Farming Systems Research into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4503-2_8
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