The SIAE has reprinted teaching materials for study circle mentors. We are glad that the interest in mentoring is not decreasing. The revised Study Circle manual: From the Roots to the New Challenges for Community Living, is available for free at the SIAE Digital Reading Room (in Slovenian), and in printed form. The summer was therefore dedicated to updating, reviewing and harmonisation with the authors. The updated edition is an introduction to a new book we keenly await, which mentors and participants of study circles drew up last year at the 25th anniversary.
Bellow you shall find an excerpt from the revised teaching material, which is undoubtedly of interest to all adult educators. It involves an updated text and new issues, which confirm and provide more detailed information on the intergenerational design of study circles. We are pleased that they are the practice of connecting generations. We are shaking our heads because there are virtually no men under the age of 30; nevertheless, the graph shows encouraging results.
The core of the circles is the middle generation, which is accompanied by younger and older generations. The proportion of circles involving third-age individuals is slowly increasing. The period 2008–2018, includes some circles, which only involve young people. The proportion of circles, in which all three generations are involved, has increased.
We have been operating in accordance with international guidelines for 25 years. We are more connection-oriented than target-oriented; however, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Generation I students include young people from the fifth to the thirtieth years, while in the middle group or generation II, there are participants aged between thirty and sixty years. The oldest reach an enviable age – even a hundred and ten years.
In autumn, we will start with new, improved study circles. We will keep you informed about the developments.
Dr Nevenka Bogataj (nevenka.bogataj@acs.si), SIAE
