a new way to learn..

By Christine Scott

A Learning Exchange is essentially a referral service, designed to allow a two-way exchange of skills and information between people who share common interests. It puts people in contact with people and other resources necessary to pursue interests, to help people clarify interests, and to stimulate thinking about the possibility of different activities. It is potentially relevant to many situations; the teacher in the classroom trying to encourage or aid students to develop interests, a person in the community wanting to initiate a project, a student pursuing individually directed learning, someone wanting to exchange ideas on music, books, and so on.

The operation is intended to expose needs and assist in discovering resources to meet these needs. It is our belief that there are many resources available which are inefficiently utilised. The first Learning Exchange was initiated by Denis Detzel at Evanston in the US, and was designed on the basis of the educational and social philosophy of Ivan Illich, in the hope of providing a viable alternative to the traditional school structure. Be that as it may, the Learning Exchange would seem to be a useful supplement to it.

There are currently Exchanges in London, Papu/New Guinea, and at least six in Australia. The latter are sophisticated models; Armadale has an educational-resource centre cum bookshop/toy shop, rented premises, a rented computer system and a number of people employed full time. Information is punched onto a magnetic card system. Publicity and further resources are obtained through the regular publication of a newspaper. It also initiates community projects and seeks to involve large numbers of people.

The NZUSA Learning Exchange has been in operation for a month now. It was declared open by the distribution of initial publicity material to NZPA, the Evening Post and the Dominion. The public library made a display of our material as did the National Council of Adult Education. We have been wary of publicity at this stage, since we are quite new at the game, and wanted to get our information filing system organised first.

The basic operation of the Exchange so far is through mail and post. Enquiries have been received from as far afield as Featherston and Motueka; we have had several requests for information - people wanting to learn woodcarving, jewellry making, to meet others interested in music and the Arts, and one person who wished to get in touch with speakers of the Maori language. We have several people who have registered with the exchange as resources; people with informal skills in folk singing, house restoration, tapestry, typing, sculpture, advertising, people interested in discussion with others on adult education, jazz, writing, travel. Our totally unsophisticated methods presently centre around a cross-indexed set of 3" x 5" cards in a cardboard box, and a couple of hanging files. As the project gains momentum we will explore other methods. Any one with special skills in filing is welcomed to join the Exchange.

It has been the experience of exchanges in other countries that people have been reluctant to use the exchange because they feel they have nothing to contribute. We live in an age of the specialist, and of the restriction of public knowledge. In anticipation of this view, we would emphasise our belief that everyone has knowledge and skills of interest and of use to others. To offer that interest or skill to others in exchange for companionship, conversation, or other skills is a very friendly thing to do.

In order to use the exchange as a learner simply give us a call on 58-405 and we will do our best to locate someone to help you.

If you are interested in joining the exchange as a 'peer' or a teacher, i.e. if you are prepared to have others work with you to learn a skill, or to give coaching in an activity, or if you are interested in joining discussion groups and speaking to schools or groups, write in or ring and we will send you a form on which to record your interests and/or skills. You can specify how often you are prepared to be contacted, and you won't be deluged with requests.