Informal Learning through Communities of Practice: The Case of Freeganism

Katerina Lojdova Masaryk university, Brno, Czech republic e-mail: katka.lojdova@gmail.com Freeganism Freegans employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Principles: Waste reclamation Waste minimalization Eco friendly transport Rent-free housing Going green Working less Methodology Research question: How does informal learning occurs in the community of freegans? Qualitative strategy semi-structured interviews, participant obeservation, making field notes Sample: 12 freegans [define themselves as freegans, freegan practices and interaction with another freegans]

Results: Freegan community is both: a space for learning and an actor of public education as well. A) Freegans as a teaching community teaching others (outside the community) is intentional process, where we can recognicse methods and goals Methods Using social networks Activism in the street (happenings, meetings, festivals) Discussion with people around Goals to teach Anti-consumerism Consumption reduction and recycling Recycling and using carbage B) Freegans as a learning community learning takes place inside the community, it is mostly not intentional, without explicit goals, but connected values and identity. Methods Sharing things and ideas Imitation Learning by doing Values Social and environmental values Resistance to mainstream society Provocation and inidividualism

I am sorry I cant be here for the poster conference. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me. Katerina