Life and learning in further education: constructing the circumstantial curriculum

Abstract

This paper considers experience of further education (FE) from a student perspective. Students were involved in a longitudinal research project designed to develop a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of their progress on a vocational study programme. Using case studies as part of a multi-method research strategy, students' motivation and logic were examined to create a better understanding as to why they enrolled on the course, how they experienced the course and how they made decisions about subsequent progression. The links between experience of FE and students' broader lives were explored in relation to situated learning theory and learning careers. This enabled in-depth analysis of students' beliefs, their experiences and learning and their perceptions about the context for learning. The students' lives are full of complexities that are often either ignored or misunderstood by educational planners. This article discusses the outcomes of the research and includes a description of the 'circumstantial curriculum', a concept to denote the individual collection of factors that define each student in this setting.

Professionalism, Sense of Community and Reason to Learn: Lessons from an Exemplary Career and Technical Education Center

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Cruising in the 21st century: Who works while others play?

“…In some cases, this appeared to be as a result of a combination of factors such as: orientation and comprehension in relation to the scale of the workplace; acculturation and adoption of required traits in order to be less peripheral in the work community; getting used to working relatively long hours; learning new skills and building knowledge; and continually looking forward to the next port of call. This complex mix impacted upon the individual and led each appointee to construct their version of reality in accordance with the theory presented in the circumstantial curriculum (Gibson, 2004). Taken a stage further, it can be claimed that the notion of community is highly individualised.…”

“…Action may emerge through consideration of a personal set of ever-changing logical priorities and rationale (Gibson, 2004). The model (Fig.…”

“…The study is located in a body of literature that considers individual learning motivations (Gibson, 2004), the professional and social context of apprenticeships and the importance of the setting for personal progress (Lave, 1988) and, as such, it is claimed that, by reflecting on the data, the paper provides a discussion to highlight critical issues to reveal new insights into this complex, multinational, and under researched maritime world.…”

Cruising along the river Danube: Contemporary tourism trend in Serbia

“…Cruises are constantly increasing in popularity worldwide, as they present an attractive form of modern tourist traffic (CLIA, 2005;Marti, 2004;Ward, 2005;Peisley, 1992Peisley, , 2006Hobson, 1993;Gibson, 2004Gibson, , 2008. Over the last decade, cruises have become a tourist niche with the fastest growth rate.…”