Przestrzeń miasta jako przestrzeń uczenia się przez całe życie… – wykorzystanie spaceru badawczego do badania lifelong learning
The space of the city as a space for lifelong learning — using the research walk to explore lifelong learning

Summary/Abstract: The subject of this article is small cities as learning spaces for adult inhabitants. It presents the conclusions of a study conducted with the technique of research walks in four small Polish cities (a total of 39 walks, 9 or 10 in each city). It juxtaposes an analysis of the spatial layout of the cities studied, based on urbanist Kevin Lynch’s concept of evaluating city space, with the learning practices of their adult inhabitants. Lifelong learning is presented as an idea, a practice and a phenomenon for which urban space is an important context. Adopting a perspective in which informal learning practices are considered in its context allowed for new fields of analysis and interpretation of the research material — not through the prism of types of activity or types of institutions, but through the role of space and the types of places where learning takes place. This has resulted in a fresh perspective, rarely or never seen in the sociology of education, which considers the role of urban space and the ways in which it is used for (lifelong) learning. Despite the many differences between the respondents, the sites they chose had much in common. It appears that, for the respondents, the places on the city map that are conducive to learning are those that are conducive to reflection and rumination. However, there was no shortage of institutions that are almost automatically associated with learning, such as schools, universities, museums, libraries and other cultural institutions. The analysis of the material also revealed that some of the analytical categories proposed by Lynch seemed empty; they were not filled by the content of the narratives. The study opens a discussion on the role of urban spaces in supporting lifelong learning. In addition to the conclusions of the study, the text provides many tips and recommendations for the use of the research walk technique in the study of contemporary LLL practices. It also allows us to understand the role of space by putting ourselves almost literally into the shoes of the subjects.

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