What is the role of narrative in how people learn throughout their lives?

Are there different patterns and forms of narrativity? How do they influence learning?

Based on data gathered for the Learning Lives project, which sought to understand learning by questioning individuals about their life stories, this book seeks to define a new learning theory which focuses on the role of narrative and narration in learning. Through a number of detailed case-studies based on longitudinal interviews conducted over three and four-year periods with a wide range of life story informants, Narrative Learning highlights the role of narrative and narration in an individual's learning and understanding of how they act in the world. The authors explore a domain of learning and human subjectivity which is vital but currently unexplored in learning and teaching and seek to re-position learning within the ongoing preoccupation with identity and agency. The 'interior conversations' whereby a person defines their personal thoughts and courses of action and creates their own stories and life missions, is situated at the heart of a person's map of learning and understanding of their place in the world.

The insights presented seek to show that most people spend a significant amount of time rehearsing and recounting their life-story, which becomes a strong influence on their actions and agency, and an important site of learning in itself. Narrative Learning seeks to shift the focus of learning from the prescriptivism of a strongly defined curriculum to accommodate personal narrative styles and thereby encourage engagement and motivation in the learning process. Hence the book has radical and far-reaching implications for existing Governmental policies on school curriculum.

The book will be of particular interest to professionals, educational researchers, policy-makers, undergraduate and postgraduate learners and all of those involved with education theory, CPD, adult education and lifelong learning.

What is the role of narrative in how people learn throughout their lives?

Are there different patterns and forms of narrativity? How do they influence learning?

Based on data gathered for the Learning Lives project, which sought to understand learning by questioning individuals about their life stories, this book seeks to define a new learning theory which focuses on the role of narrative and narration in learning. Through a number of detailed case-studies based on longitudinal interviews conducted over three and four-year periods with a wide range of life story informants, Narrative Learning highlights the role of narrative and narration in an individual's learning and understanding of how they act in the world. The authors explore a domain of learning and human subjectivity which is vital but currently unexplored in learning and teaching and seek to re-position learning within the ongoing preoccupation with identity and agency. The 'interior conversations' whereby a person defines their personal thoughts and courses of action and creates their own stories and life missions, is situated at the heart of a person's map of learning and understanding of their place in the world.

The insights presented seek to show that most people spend a significant amount of time rehearsing and recounting their life-story, which becomes a strong influence on their actions and agency, and an important site of learning in itself. Narrative Learning seeks to shift the focus of learning from the prescriptivism of a strongly defined curriculum to accommodate personal narrative styles and thereby encourage engagement and motivation in the learning process. Hence the book has radical and far-reaching implications for existing Governmental policies on school curriculum.

The book will be of particular interest to professionals, educational researchers, policy-makers, undergraduate and postgraduate learners and all of those involved with education theory, CPD, adult education and lifelong learning.

Long before there was Twitter or Facebook, MySpace created an entirely new way to be a lonely, confused teenager—and music was the site’s beating heart. With MySpace, you could finally find your people, your scene, and your home. With new and extensive interviews with scene pioneers and mainstays like Geoff Rickly (Thursday), Gape Saporta (Midtown/Cobra Starship), Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) and Max Bemis (Say Anything), Tedder has crafted a once-in-a-generation exploration of The Scene that is as forthright as it is tenderly nostalgic. Even beyond emo, Tedder's interviews with artists from Colbie Caillat to Lil Jon stand out in this epic journey through the 2000s and what they meant. MySpace offered excitement and freedom, but it wasn't long before shortsighted business decisions led the site to lose the social media battle to Facebook, and Tedder talked to the executives and employees who saw it happen.