Learning pathways: How learning is culturally organized

In this chapter, we present a developing framework for conceptualizing learning as occurring along culturally-organized learning pathways-the sequences of consequential participations (Beach, 1999) in learning activities that move one toward greater social recognition as competent in particular learning domains. Our approach supports a view of learning that attends to the multi-level, longitudinal nature of the ways that cultural processes are inherent in learning. It draws attention to the specific resources to which learners have access, the ways that learners are differentially positioned within the broad range of learning settings in which they participate, and the role that issues of identity-who one is in the process of becoming-play in learning.