Dr. Szabolcs ZalayUniversity of Pécs

Faculty of Adult Educationand Human Resources

Development Institute of Cultural Studies Department of Cultural Mediation

The Roots of Learning Cities

23. 10. 2009

1/12The Roots of Learning Cities

III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

Dawn of a new learning era- In the last years the paradigm of learning

appeared on the full educational palette – from pedagogy, through andragogy, until learning of the aged ones.

- The multidimensional model of learning means the widening of learning time and space (Lifelong Learning and Lifewide Learning).

- At the same time the new disciplines of learning science exceed holistic offers of the diverse tendency. The theories about the tiniest details meet here (neurobiology, quantum physics, linguistics) with the ideas aimed at the understanding of global processes and their treatment (consciousness revolution, knowledge society, learning cities).

2/12The Roots of Learning Cities

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RootsWithout roots, even the most beautiful ideas subside

soon (-from the above directed model). The living consciousness of the past needs a real change. This can be interpreted in more meanings:

- 1. meaning: History lesson (learning urban

traditions, archaic community learning forms).

- 2. meaning: Educational traditions (the frontal education using its opportunities).

- 3. meaning: Learning settlement centres' formation (for learning the next era; polishing the preparation proccess, the scientific foundation and its practical side, adapting solutions).

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- The form of the archaic community learning may be one of the important roots of modern learning methods according to the first approach. Where there is arché (ancient cause, ancient principle, ancient order), there are perspective, aim, sense, learning motivation, learning community, and the harmony of subject-object connection can be realised. We know about three eras in the History (age of magic, age of mythology, age of monoteism) which worked so. The individualism put an end to all.

- The Hungarian tradition knows this direction (our folk-tales, folksongs, dances, legends, literature, objective culture and our language). This is an organic cultivation full of life.

- The world-view is ordered – the sense of learning is the cognition, experience, living of the truth – this was possible only by way of the community consciousness (universal man opposed to today's „unidimensional one”).

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Archaic community learning

III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

The universal people„ While the characteristics of unidimensional man are the next: the mechanical-inorganic nature view, power-aggressive politics, negative utopias, the preference of religious dogmatism, pathological personality disturbances, the ornamental or functional art, the utilitarian and consumer ethics, and the neglect of traditional values. On the other hand, the characteristics of universal man are the next: the organic nature view, the realpolitic and peaceful aims, the real utopias, the religious profession ethos, the man himself opening and revealing the world, the liking of art offering a special perspective, the plural ethic horizon, the harmony of the traditional and modern values.”

András Bohár

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III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

The second root: popular science - The cognition of universal man desire was able to express

itself in the modern world between the traditional forms of the popular science.

- The characteristics of this are: community activity, but passive learning situations.

- What kind of role can the multitudinous and frontal teaching play in the new learning era with the knowledge-centerness, the superficiality and the dangers of oblivion?

- The spiritual community experiences can give self-identity without mass-psychosis and brainwashing. That is the difference between the chance of community and the mass.

- In this respect the quality education of teachers and adult educators is very important, putting emphasis on the scientific and artistic role of the rhetoric .

6/12The Roots of Learning Cities

III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

A good example from Pécs- We have organized a series of lectures about

Hungarian history: „Row of pictures” – „The values of Culture in Pécs.”

- The result was a large surprise for everybody: it was met by enormous interest. The lectures brought community experience and that encouraged the individuals for activity. New community organizations were formed.

- Surprising topic and form. The secrets of the Hungarian past that were hidden from the people for a long time came to light. The series awakened the desire of learning and the public asked for new topics. For example: the secret of the Holy Crown of Hungary.

- The clarification of the past is the basis of the programs of Pécs2010. The next year Pécs will be the Cultural Capital of Europe.

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III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

The third root: the „Learning City”

- Learning systems/to network formation there is a growing need for centres that may be the roots of these.

- They may have the next tasks: preparation, practical and scientific foundation of learning the next era.

- The adaptive solutions to act.- It may be a „model institution” – the

draft of a researcher and practising centre of learning science.

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III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

The Draft of Researching and Practising Centre of Learning

Science - The operating of a searching group – fundamental

researches .- The forming of a methodological base: for programs

working already on the one hand (profitable operating – sustainability), on the other hand techniques like that, afford the opportunity to the acquisition of methods, through which the listeners may test themselves, projects like that may be introduced, with trained instructors' help, who may make sure of the efficiency in the course of the work, which may be refined in the course of the process.

- The development of the full personality – with a holistic approach (in a body - spirit - soul's unit).

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Action plan

- 1) The formation of a searching group (suitable persons' selection, starting a strategic plan, an educational concept, a research-developmental process).

- 2) The insurance of sustainability (European Union, national, local sources, EKF being attached to applications, consortium partners).

- 3) The completion of a training repertoire (the summary of the results of sociological studies, market survey, academic specialisation launches, the management of courses, image creation, trainings).

- 4) The organization of pedagogic and andragogical practices.

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III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

Pascal

„ If you are not willing to risk any kind of opinion or to do anything

until you do not understand everything totally, and do not prove everything perfectly, you can never say anything or you can do nothing.

One single road is left open: the revaluation of the claim of

rationality!”

11/12The Roots of Learning Cities

III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture

On the road of learning 1) The urban man has to learn the

archaic culture from the village. It is possibly a way if he wants to study.

- 2) We have to learn the best example from the ancestors of popular study.- 3) We need the old and new roots for the new learning era.

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III. UNECC Conference VilniusDr. Szabolcs Zalay Innovation, Creativity and Culture