A new book examining the growth of co-operative education was published last month. Titled “Co-operation, Learning and Co-operative Values – Contemporary Issues in Education”, the book looks at the relationship between co-operation and education while emphasising the tensions and obstacles facing the movement.
It includes contributions of academics and practitioners from a range of backgrounds. Editor of the book and one of the authors, Tim Woodin is senior lecturer in Education at the Institute of Education of the University of London.
He explained how the book had arisen out of the “extraordinary interest” shown in education and co-operation at the Mainstreaming Co-operation conference organised in 2012 by the Co-operative College.
“Co-operative education and learning is a very significant yet undeveloped area of scholarship and practice. In addition to the rich historical legacy of education in the co-operative movement, co-operative forms of learning and organisation are proliferating across the education system and elsewhere.
“Co-operative values are being applied to a wide range of settings and the results provide a fascinating perspective on recent social changes and the ways that dominant ideas about markets and education are being contested. The book brings together some key thinkers and practitioners in in the area of co-operative learning, including teachers, students, academics and organisers.”
The articles are designed for practitioners in co-operative education around the world. They touch upon theories and histories of co-operative values and principles, as well as co-operative education in a wider context. The book also includes critical views of the practice of co-operative education and case studies of processes in action from both schools and higher education.
“The collection is dedicated to the memory of Professor Ian MacPherson who died when he was finishing his chapter on the development of co-operative studies in higher education. It also includes chapters on the co-operative movement, the burgeoining co-operative schools movement, the potential for co-operative models of higher education as well as historical and contemporary examples of co-operative organisation in mainstream education,” added Prof. Tom Woodin.
The book can be ordered online, with a 20% discount available before the end of 2014.
Photo: editor Tom Woodin
