The Society That Learns - Constructionism and Lifelong Learning in Thailand

How Thai farmers, teachers, and workers created new approaches to lifelong learning through constructionism--and transformed communities across the country as a result. The educational philosophy of constructionism holds that learning works best when it comes from creating things in the world and generating change on a personal, community, and even societal level. In Drawing from diverse learning approaches such as Seymour Papert’s constructionism, Paulo Freire’s culturally relevant and critical pedagogy, and innovative Thai contributions, the book emphasizes the importance of learning as a unifying principle that leads to personal, community, and societal level change. As the authors show, when learners at the margins of society are equipped with the skills and agency to succeed, they can create solutions outside of formal schooling that respond to their communities’ needs. This book showcases how the Thai Constructionist community modeled the power of learning as an inherently human force that, once unleashed, empowers people to transform their lives and the lives of others.

Product details

• Authors: Paulo Blikstein, Deborah A Fields, Deborah A. Fields, Fields Deborah A.
• Publisher: The MIT Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 21.07.2026
• EAN: 9780262052276
• ISBN: 978-0-262-05227-6
• No. of pages: 400
• Subjects: EDUCATION / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects, HISTORY / Asia / Southeast Asia, EDUCATION / Comparative, South East Asia, Organization & management of education, Philosophy & theory of education, Asian History, Philosophy and theory of education, Education: comparative studies