Lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning: utilizing the lens of HIV/AIDS

Abstract

In this presentation, I use a discussion on pedagogies of HIV/AIDS as a lens to sharpen and clarify ways of thinking about adult and lifelong learning, particularly in and for the majority world. HIV/AIDS highlight some of the most difficult social, economic, cultural and personal issues that any adult educators have to confront. I adopt a critical participatory action research methodology to reflect back on the approaches we have developed over several years. From these experiences, our observations are that working with people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS bring into sharp focus the need for pedagogical approaches (i) to include male and female, children and adults across generations, for all ages (i.e. lifelong learning); (ii) to recognize the importance of sustainable livelihoods and systemic issues in a life-wide approach (i.e. life wide learning); and (iii) to work with deeply personal issues relating to death and sexual relations which tap into the cultural, spiritual, and intimate aspects of people’s lives (i.e. life deep learning). I use theoretical frameworks from feminist popular education, post-colonial theory and adult and lifelong learning. The paper is a ‘work in progress’.