Life Long Learning
December 12th 2007 11:33
Life long learning is an idea that has been discussed in academic circles and in the secondary school system for a few years now, although it is interesting that not many people are actively involved in making it happen.
In one way, it's like Australian politics. Politicians look at some ideas for the future and must think "will I get voted back in for this? Therefore, does it matter to me?" rather than actually believing in something so strongly that they put aside their own ambition in order to benefit the people of their local area, state or federal constituency.
Anyway, back to education.
The main idea of lifelong learning is that from the earliest stages of cognitive development, children become teenagers who become adults who are constantly learning from experience. Experience comes in various forms: the classroom, the home, the local area, the family, overseas travel, workplaces and so on.
This experience does not need to be formal education, but rather does require the 'learner' to identify points of change and development. For example, children often do not remember some terms, concepts and underlying knowledge in the long term because curricula in early childhood and primary education is geared to foundational ideas from which to springboard into life: literacy and numeracy are two vastly important keystones.
Not only should students build on this foundation to generate what society calls an 'adequate' social understanding and factual/analytical knowledge, but the emotions, morals and values experienced and reflected on by older children and teens form the basis for their adult personality and interests.
Therefore educators of all levels, be they classroom teachers, academics, public personalities and most importantly parents, should seek to understand ALL learner's stage of development, personality, motivation and interests in order to allow everyone to pursue productive and efficient learning for each individual context.
Learning is omniscient and omnipotent. Through knowing and experiencing more each day, in structured and unstructured, formal and everyday ways, everyone has the chance to be a true life long learner.
In one way, it's like Australian politics. Politicians look at some ideas for the future and must think "will I get voted back in for this? Therefore, does it matter to me?" rather than actually believing in something so strongly that they put aside their own ambition in order to benefit the people of their local area, state or federal constituency.
Anyway, back to education.
The main idea of lifelong learning is that from the earliest stages of cognitive development, children become teenagers who become adults who are constantly learning from experience. Experience comes in various forms: the classroom, the home, the local area, the family, overseas travel, workplaces and so on.
This experience does not need to be formal education, but rather does require the 'learner' to identify points of change and development. For example, children often do not remember some terms, concepts and underlying knowledge in the long term because curricula in early childhood and primary education is geared to foundational ideas from which to springboard into life: literacy and numeracy are two vastly important keystones.
Not only should students build on this foundation to generate what society calls an 'adequate' social understanding and factual/analytical knowledge, but the emotions, morals and values experienced and reflected on by older children and teens form the basis for their adult personality and interests.
Therefore educators of all levels, be they classroom teachers, academics, public personalities and most importantly parents, should seek to understand ALL learner's stage of development, personality, motivation and interests in order to allow everyone to pursue productive and efficient learning for each individual context.
Learning is omniscient and omnipotent. Through knowing and experiencing more each day, in structured and unstructured, formal and everyday ways, everyone has the chance to be a true life long learner.
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