Foundations 5 The Learning Process

The Learning Process

Amartya Sen, the Indian economist and philosopher, speaks about the importance of a societal characteristic that he calls a ‘reasoned public voice’v. In societies where this voice exists, many people are willing to sit together in respectful relationships to hear different and even opposing views. In such robust experiences we have:

• the opportunity to find, claim, and express our own voice without fear of being disrespected

• the space to examine the reasons why we have chosen to act in our current particular ways and to consider alternative reasons and ways

• the opportunity to exercise our choice to either continue with our existing ways of acting or to make a change.

Individual and Group Reflection

These materials are written for individual reflection, as well as for groups that enjoy reading, thinking, and speaking together about the themes. One of the central themes within these materials is how we can learn to model freedom and trust with one another and dissolve—and even end—ways that diminish trust or promote rivalry and conflict. The materials are designed to help us explore how the dynamics within the relationships, groups, organisations, and cultures to which we belong shape our lives and sometimes limit our freedom to exercise personal choice and make changes in our ways of living. The materials assert and provide a framework for understanding how we can be agents of change in our lives, rather than at the mercy of what is going on around us. Another central theme is whether, and how, we learn to model freedom and trust with one another. We are invited to explore dissolving and ending the interpersonal and societal dynamics between us that generate insecurity, separate people into opposing identities, and hold back our human development. We are offered other possibilities which nurture openness and trust, and that we might choose to propagate. Such ways are affirming, they build our confidence and increase our ability to live hope-filled lives with different others. In the next pages we invite you to take the space individually to reflect on these themes in your own life and in the groups, cultures and societies in which you have lived and of which you are currently a part.

One of the building blocks of building and sustaining a stable and diverse society is in the experience of being in groups where diverse citizens respectfully learn together. Our definition of diversity includes those who hold differing or opposing thoughts from ours.

If you are willing to take part in a group reflection on these themes, the materials also guide you in this process. We encourage you to be open to learning together with different others.

The learning materials are organised around three core reflective actions:

1. Find Your Own Voice
   Explore and reflect on your past and current real life experiences, reflecting on the structures and relationships that influenced your actions.
2. Examine Your Reasons
   Be curious about what reasons may have influenced or influence the decisions and directions you have taken in your life to date. Do they help or hinder you now?
3. Exercise Your Choice
   Do these reasons continue to have meaning for you? Do you wish to continue with your current choices or to make new ones?

Nurturing Hope materials are about supporting you as an individual, or in a group, as you take part within a wider civic discussion about how people from different backgrounds and experiences can learn with and from each other. In so doing we promote experiences where we grow to be more at ease with difference.

The Purposes of These Materials

Purpose 1: Understanding Some Dynamics of Relationships and Structures

Each one of us has the potential to model freedom and possibilities in our relationships.

• The materials invite individual readers and learning group members to consider:

Ten Dynamics that Shape Our Relationships.

• We are invited to examine some dynamics shaping our relationships with different others and our possibilities to choose more open, trusting relationships and structures that model freedom for us all.

Ten Dynamics associated with Living in Conflict-Affected Societies.

• We are invited to consider how some dynamics of conflict-affected societies diminish our possibilities when living in one place. We are invited to explore whether we can exercise choices that break their hold and make living well together a possibility.

Ten Relational and Structural Dynamics that Promote Hope.

• Readers and Group Members are invited to examine the potential they have, with others, to enter into more open, trusting relationships and structures that make individual and structural change possible and that promote hope.

Purpose 2: Learning Over Time and Learning in Each Moment

The materials invite participants to reflect on:

• How we learn in the present moment.
• How old or hurtful experiences can be dissolved or passed through.
• How these experiences can establish new, open and trusting relationships.
• How this positive learning can be sustained over time in our lives.

Purpose 3: Being and Becoming A Critically Reflective Citizen

The materials invite participants to:

• Understand the importance of enabling openness and trust to develop between us all.
• Understand that such relational structures are the basis for all deep learning in schools, work, and society.
• Value the significance of open and reflective learning structures.
• Become more at ease in participating in discussions with different others characterised by fairness and respect.

Purpose 4: The Importance of Citizens Exercising Voice, Reason and Choice

The materials invite participants to:

• Explore the discipline of citizens finding and using our voices.
• Understand how conflicts can generate ‘good reasons’ to live apart.
• Create reflective spaces in which to make a change.
• Invite citizens to exercise choice in moving forward together.