AFL2603
Assignment 1
Semester 2 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,AFL2603 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024
1.1 How did people in the olden days’ prior formal education, transfer
knowledge and skills to their children? Support your answers with relevant
examples. (15)
1.2 Folksongs and praise poems are always regarded as old fashioned and
outdated. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your
answers with relevant examples. (10) /25/
1.1 Knowledge and Skill Transfer in the Olden Days Prior to Formal
Education
In the olden days, before the advent of formal education, knowledge and
skills were primarily transferred through oral traditions, apprenticeships,
and communal practices. These methods ensured the preservation and
transmission of cultural values, skills, and knowledge from one generation
to the next. Here are some examples:
1. Oral Tradition: Knowledge about history, culture, and moral values
was passed down through storytelling, folktales, and proverbs. Elders
would gather children and younger members of the community to
share stories that contained moral lessons, cultural values, and
historical events. For instance, African communities often used
storytelling to teach children about their ancestors, the importance of
community, and survival tactics.
2. Apprenticeship: Skills such as farming, hunting, fishing, and crafting
were learned through hands-on experience. Young people would
work alongside their parents or other skilled members of the
, community to learn these trades. For example, a blacksmith's son
would spend years assisting and observing his father in the forge,
gradually learning the craft of metalworking.
3. Rites of Passage: In many cultures, rites of passage were crucial in
transferring knowledge related to adulthood and social
responsibilities. These ceremonies often involved lessons in
leadership, spirituality, and social roles. For example, the Maasai
people of East Africa have a rite of passage called "Eunoto" where
boys are taught the responsibilities of becoming a warrior.
4. Songs and Dances: Many communities used songs, dances, and
other forms of artistic expression to convey important cultural
narratives and practical knowledge. For example, work songs were
sung in the fields to coordinate group labor and teach rhythm, timing,
and cooperation.
5. Communal Living: The communal lifestyle in many traditional
societies meant that children learned by observing and participating
in daily activities alongside adults. Skills like cooking, farming, and
child-rearing were learned informally through observation and
practice. For example, girls might learn how to cook by helping their
mothers in the kitchen from a young age.
These methods were effective in ensuring that each generation was well-
prepared to maintain the cultural practices, survival skills, and social
structures of their community.
1.2 Folk Songs and Praise Poems: Outdated or Timeless?
Assignment 1
Semester 2 2024
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,AFL2603 Assignment 1 Semester 2 2024
1.1 How did people in the olden days’ prior formal education, transfer
knowledge and skills to their children? Support your answers with relevant
examples. (15)
1.2 Folksongs and praise poems are always regarded as old fashioned and
outdated. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your
answers with relevant examples. (10) /25/
1.1 Knowledge and Skill Transfer in the Olden Days Prior to Formal
Education
In the olden days, before the advent of formal education, knowledge and
skills were primarily transferred through oral traditions, apprenticeships,
and communal practices. These methods ensured the preservation and
transmission of cultural values, skills, and knowledge from one generation
to the next. Here are some examples:
1. Oral Tradition: Knowledge about history, culture, and moral values
was passed down through storytelling, folktales, and proverbs. Elders
would gather children and younger members of the community to
share stories that contained moral lessons, cultural values, and
historical events. For instance, African communities often used
storytelling to teach children about their ancestors, the importance of
community, and survival tactics.
2. Apprenticeship: Skills such as farming, hunting, fishing, and crafting
were learned through hands-on experience. Young people would
work alongside their parents or other skilled members of the
, community to learn these trades. For example, a blacksmith's son
would spend years assisting and observing his father in the forge,
gradually learning the craft of metalworking.
3. Rites of Passage: In many cultures, rites of passage were crucial in
transferring knowledge related to adulthood and social
responsibilities. These ceremonies often involved lessons in
leadership, spirituality, and social roles. For example, the Maasai
people of East Africa have a rite of passage called "Eunoto" where
boys are taught the responsibilities of becoming a warrior.
4. Songs and Dances: Many communities used songs, dances, and
other forms of artistic expression to convey important cultural
narratives and practical knowledge. For example, work songs were
sung in the fields to coordinate group labor and teach rhythm, timing,
and cooperation.
5. Communal Living: The communal lifestyle in many traditional
societies meant that children learned by observing and participating
in daily activities alongside adults. Skills like cooking, farming, and
child-rearing were learned informally through observation and
practice. For example, girls might learn how to cook by helping their
mothers in the kitchen from a young age.
These methods were effective in ensuring that each generation was well-
prepared to maintain the cultural practices, survival skills, and social
structures of their community.
1.2 Folk Songs and Praise Poems: Outdated or Timeless?
