Welcome to Contextual Learning Lab
Contextual Learning Lab (CLL) is a self-motivated learning space where we (re)learn and try to put some of the (re)learning back into practice. Our philosophy is that learning should take place in response to one’s individual, socio-cultural, and environmental contexts. Such contextual learning and practice over time forms what we consider as knowledge systems. These knowledge systems – vetted over time by the continuous use and refinement, constitute the philosophy and way of life for an individual as well as a society – some of them are reflected through our long-standing traditions in various aspects such as agricultural practices, medicinal practices, building practices, music traditions etc. as well as through various manifestations of these traditions such as food habits, lifestyle, building, festival, and so on. These knowledge, traditions and their manifestations are actually the backbone of today’s sustainable development goals (SDGs). CLL is a way of engaging meaningfully with these knowledge systems. We invite you to engage with us in this endeavor to enrich our collective learning and practices.
PROCESSES / INQUIRIES
As the name suggests, CLL seeks to explore and promote contexts-based learning. We can consider contexts at three levels – individual, socio-cultural and environmental. We believe that learning at every level – be it a child or a young adult or adult, is meaningful and enjoyable if it connects to one’s self, interest and surrounding issues. In terms of blooms taxonomy of teaching and learning, such connected approach of learning can enable the learning process from a mere ‘knowing’, to ‘understanding’, and further to ‘applying’, ‘evaluating’, ‘analyzing’ and ultimately towards creating a way forward. At this stage, we are engaged in a family experiment – beginning at individual level with reference to the learning of our son. However, we are also keen to expand this process to higher education. This section of the website will feature the processes for a meaningful learning in given contexts. Please explore this section of the website to see how we are experimenting with the idea of contextual learning in our case but also how we can collaborate to take the contextual learning approach to higher education, professional learning as well as other multiple levels of learning for multiple contexts and learners.
MANIFESTATIONS / IMPLICATIONS
What is the purpose of learning? What are our learning resources as well as outcome of generations of learning? Should we also cherish them while we learn from them? How should we value them and perhaps engage with them? In this section, drawing upon our ‘educated interests’, we would like to contextualize some of the global heritage practices. This is not an experiment but an initiative to contribute back to our society by contextualizing what we have attempted to learn in our journey so far. This part of CLL will highlight the achievements of learning processes at multiple levels in our society – in the form of memories, stories, lessons and prides.
The results of such learning may eventually become what is widely perceived as heritage. CLL aims to explore and promote such contextual learning processes, while also recognizing the best outcomes of such learning from past or present.