CLADA Portfolio

Society for Co-operative Studies (SCS) Journal ‘Co-operation in Education’ published.

After over a year of planning and hard work, the latest Society for Co-operative Studies (SCS) Journal ‘Co-operation in Education’ guest edited by Maureen Breeze, a CLADA associate, has been published.

This special edition represents a great step up in CLADA’s commitment to developing and expanding co-operative strategies in and beyond the education sector.

CLADA founding director, Alan Wilkins and Richard Bickle of the SCS have been working tirelessly alongside Maureen, who is also the deputy chair of The International Association for the Study of Co-operation in Education (IASCE), to invite, inspire, collect, collate and edit articles from educationalists and practitioners alike.

There are longer articles focusing on the context and pedagogy of co-operative education and reflective shorter pieces from practitioners which describe its influence and application.

CLADA ran two seminars bringing together leading thinkers on the subject of co-operative learning to gauge the current situation. Delegates from across the country came together and generously sharing their perceptions and practice offered ideas for articles. Through this collaborative process, a more balanced and accurate view of current provision and thinking could be achieved in the journal. Alan provides a lead contextual piece and several CLADA associates also have articles in the publication which demonstrate the depth of experience in our co-operative.

Contributors agreed to publish first drafts on the CLADA Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), so all could peer review and take account of each others’ work. A co-operatively constructed journal about co-operation in education. This ‘dualling’ of practice and purpose, a feature of the CLADA methodology, has produced what we feel is a major piece of reference work and a testament to the transformative power of co-operation. The journal’s timely publication in the International Year of Co-operatives should contribute to the debate and help to springboard new projects.