This document is one of a series the author prepared for a special issue of “À lire en ligne,” the annual journal of the Fédération canadienne pour l’alphabétisation en français (FCAF). The issue focused solely on place-based learning communities, defined as places that utilize the resources of all sectors, not just the formal education system, for learning.

In this article, the author notes that a recent research study estimated that there were almost 300 learning cities and towns distributed around the world in which lifelong learning is explicitly used as an organizing principle and social/cultural goal to foster safer, healthier, more inclusive, better educated and creative cities.

The author describes learning as social process because most learning is acquired with and from others.