Social Learning: Leisure Time Center Staff's Perspectives

The overall aim of the study as the basis to this presentation is to gain knowledge of social dimensions in the Swedish leisure time center. This by examining leisure time center staff’s perspectives of their work with... [ view full abstract ]

The overall aim of the study as the basis to this presentation is to gain knowledge of social dimensions in the Swedish leisure time center. This by examining leisure time center staff’s perspectives of their work with pupils’ social learning, specifically aiming to find out which knowledge and abilities leisure time staff consider important for pupils’ social learning. Social abilities has by previous research shown to be important for both school achievement and personal well-being. Through leisure time centers social learning is linked to the knowledge assignment in school, however often described as informal, lacking knowledge and research on its didactic intentions.

Group interviews were conducted and a total of 21 leisure time staff, divided into four groups, participated. The theoretical frame for the study is Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory. Through that framework pupils’ learning in the leisure time center can be understood as an outcome of the interaction between various factors in the surrounding environment. The result from this study shows consistent ideas about what leisure time staff consider important for pupils to acquire in social learning. Abilities considered important include pupils’ emphatic ability, among the ability to listen to each other and to show consideration and respect to other people. The leisure time center staff also emphasize knowledge about how one’s behavior and verbal outcome can affect fellow pupils.

The presentation is part of the Swedish National Research School on Communication and Relations as Foundations for Early Childhood Education (FoRFa), funded by the Swedish Research Council (grant no. 729-2013-6848).

Keywords

Social learning, leisure time center, leisure time center staff, bioecological theory.