Why is it that practitioners of informal learning can align themselves so closely with the tenets of democratic educational philosophy?

I have observed that those involved long-term in the business of mainstream education become habitually ‘weathered’ by it’s idiosyncrasies. I have also observed that underlying educational dogma, systematic inflexibility and exclusive practices (figuring as the most likely causes which…) have made the system so resistant to and inadequate for wide-ranging change is (and has always been) the issue of power dynamics.

I thoroughly welcome the opportunity to critically examine where ‘we’* are heading in education. The ‘future’ discussion day prompted me to consider my own practice as an informal media educator and researcher. I am an advocate of the potential of informal education approaches in encouraging inclusive, participatory practice that seeks to encourage people to develop their own learning, on their own terms.

Therein lies maybe the strongest message of the day for me. Sat, listening to the dialogue stemming from the digital inclusion session, there was a congruence of thinking which positively affirmed practitioners facilitating (as opposed to the didactic implications which have been associated which teaching) young people’s choice and participation through digitally mediated processes in an educational context.