Marilyn's Blog 2

“Lave and Wenger seem to challenge us to rethink what it means to learn, indeed to rethink what it means to understand.” (Lave & Wenger p.15)

            Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation by Jean Lave and Etienne Wagner is a very scholarly piece of writing that some might suggest is targeted for other educational experts in academia. Personally, I found myself re-reading and analyzing this work several times in an attempt to gain some understanding of the material and the author’s message. While some might say the writing is somewhat convoluted, the message in chapter three on the value of apprenticeship and the societal views or stereotypes of apprenticeship is quite clear: In short, there tends to be a stigma in our society about apprenticeship programs and their value as “valid” educational programs in relation to the more institutionalized and “formalized” schooling systems that are educating the majority of students today. (p. 61)

In the third chapter of this work which is titled Midwives, Tailors, Quartermasters, Butchers, and Nondrinking Alcoholics, Lave and Wenger study the apprenticeships of midwives, tailors, quartermasters and butchers and also examine some of the processes and supports of the Alcoholics Anonymous program. In all of these studies the authors closely examine the learning processes that are clearly happening while people participate in real life situations.    Lave and Wenger clearly make their point that learning happens by doing and participating in real life situations.  More importantly, they make the point that learning is not exclusive to “formal” classrooms but rather that more effective learning occurs in a variety of apprenticeship programs. This viewpoint made a great deal of sense to me as I’ve seen how different types of instruction are more effective when all of the senses are involved. According to the authors individuals learn when they contribute and take part in something, rather than being told many facts and talked to as happens in the school setting. “…if learning is about increased access to performance, then the way to maximize learning is to perform,   not to talk about it.” (p22)  People learn new things by being placed in a variety of situations with people and by participating in what is happening around them.  “Learning is, as it were, distributed among co-participants, not a one person act.” (p.15). Lave and Wenger share with the reader five studies of apprenticeship.  

The group in this study that I will discuss is the Mayan midwives in Mexico.  This study was particularly interesting given that this group lacks a formalized process of apprenticeship yet learning is clearly happening. (p. 84) The Yucatec Mayan midwives in Mexico pass down from generation to generation their knowledge and their expertise of what a midwife does on a daily basis.   These midwives don’t take classes and notes to learn what how to become a midwife, rather they learn by observing an expert in everyday, real life situations.  They learn by taking on small responsibilities and by doing.  “…learning is a way of being in the social world, not a way of coming to know about it.” (p.24)   Often the occupation of being a mid-wife in this society is a family matter and as such young girls learn by observing their mothers and grandmothers and taking part in what is happening.    “For midwives in Yucatan, apprenticeship is integrated into daily life and it is only recognized after the fact that they have served an apprenticeship...” (p.67) As the young girls mature they observe first- hand what their mothers and grandmothers are doing.  They quickly gain knowledge of what will be required of them as a midwife.  A young girl over a period of time will learn additional skills and have extra duties to perform.    “As time goes on, the apprentice takes over more and more of the work load, starting with the routine and tedious parts…” (p.69) In short, the learning is taking place in an informal manner and one might even say it’s a cultural phenomenon based on the “family business”.  I really related to this fact since in my own family there is a family business that has been passed down through  three generations on the male side of my family which in addition to formal education, also  learned to run the family business by observation and doing. It was just part of how things were done in my family and I think this is also the case for the Yucatan mid-wives as well.

Eighty years ago my grandfather Vincent Joseph Mc Gillivray, at the age of 21 years of age, started a funeral home and ambulance business.  My dad grew up living in the family Funeral Home.  When my dad was very young he was given a number of chores to do around the funeral home. He had great admiration for my grandfather, for his hard work and determination to make his business succeed.  Over the years my dad worked closely with my grandfather.  When he started in the business, he would mow the lawn, wash cars, empty garbage, etc.  Throughout the years my grandfather took the time to show my dad what would be expected of him if he was to choose this as a job, no breaks at Christmas, few holidays, no sick days, dealing with many types of people, etc.  .   My grandfather was the expert and my dad the apprentice. My dad was learning by observing and participating in daily responsibilities “learning by doing”. (p.31)  My dad, the newcomer, was given more and more responsibility with every new thing he learned about the business.  When my dad turned 21 years of age, my grandfather made the decision that it was time for him to start working on his own.  My grandfather sent my dad to New Waterford, prepared with all the skills that had been passed downed to him.  My dad would now work on a daily basis with another expert in the business.  My dad was able to continue to work with my grandfather and ask for help when needed.  My dad is now 71 years old and is still working seven days a week in the family business.  Over the years he has moved from apprentice to expert, and the tradition has continued as my two brothers now run the family business.  Both my brothers learned what they know from my father who passed onto them what his father had passed on to him.  My brothers started to work in the business at a very young age, observing, participating and doing.   They learned from my father what they needed to know, all they needed to know about running a family business.  Could they have learned all that they know from a classroom or a textbook? I believe that it wouldn’t be possible.  Each generation learned by participating.    “…learning is a way of being in the social world, not a way of coming to know about it.” (p.24)

Thanks for reading!

Marilyn