Analysis of communicative interactions of community residents using interviews, diaries, and tape recordings revealed how learning may occur incidentally in social organizations, chance meetings, and other community interactions. Such community learning serves to transmit skills, knowledge, and values. Community groups provide pathways to skilled…

Argues the significance of social capital in the literacy learning process and discusses the roles and effects of various elements of social capital, such as networks and trust. Presents an illustrative case study to show how the knowledge and identity resources drawn on during learning interactions rely as much for their success on…