Social Learning: a new perspective on learning in participatory systems

In many cases experiential learning is located in individuals. Sometimes it is agreed that experiential learning can also be located in groups or social systems. Yet, little effort has been made to conceptualise these processes of “social learning”. In this contribution the authors point out the importance of social learning against the backdrop of changing circumstances in times of reflexive modernisation. Drawing on research, they develop an overall picture of four basic axes of social learning: action, reflection, cooperation and communication. They argue that social learning is all about balancing between various tensions which influence the decisions and directions of the learning systems. They also outline how power, responsibility and creativity hereby play a role. Finally, they formulate some insights about how these processes of social learning can be influenced by external or internal partners of participatory systems.