Basic Research on Lifelong Learning: Recent Survey Findings and Reflections on ‘Capturing’ Informal Learning Keynote 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

 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 learning The Centre for the Study of Education and Work Slide 2

WALL SURVEY Changing Nature of Work and Lifelong Learning Canadian Research Network established by SSHRC under Collaborative Research Initiatives on the “New Economy” 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 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 ( supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada from 2003 to Slide 3

WALL CASE STUDIES Changing Nature of Work and Lifelong Learning 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] 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] Slide 4

Taken adult education past year* (%) Done Informal learning (%) Year No Diploma HS Diploma College University TOTAL (%) Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, * Including current students. Formal Educational Attainment by Adult Education Courses and Informal Learning Slide 5

Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, * Including current students. Formal Educational Attainment by Adult Education Courses and Informal Learning Taken adult education past year* (%) Done Informal learning (%) Slide 6

Taken Further Education Course in Past Year Do Any Informal Learning Avg. Hours Informal Learning / Week* Age%%Hours Total N * Average hours exclude those reporting no informal learning. Age by Participation in Further Education and Informal Learning Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 7

Age by Any Informal Learning Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 8

Topics of Job-related Informal Learning, Employed Labour Force Participating in Informal Learning, Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 9

Housework-Related Informal Learning Topics, Eligible Participants*, Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 10

Volunteer Work-Related Informal Learning Topics, Eligible Participants*, Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 11

General Interest Informal Learning Topics, All Respondents*, Sources: NALL Survey, 1998; WALL Survey, Slide 12

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 Livingstone, D.W. (2004). The Education Jobs Gap: Underemployment or Economic Democracy. (2 nd 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 ). 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 Slide 13

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 the University of Toronto