Lifelong and lifewide learning are two concepts that make a whole. They are both part of ubiquitious learning, which is explained in the readings and the lectures that it means it can happen anyplace and anytime. 

Lifelong learning revolves around learning that is not confined within the traditional schooling years that go from kindergarten to college and beyond. It means learning is occurring often time outside a classroom with a lot more flexibility in time. It can be pursued for many different reasons, although a lot of it is linked to job opportunities and carrer growth. 

In the graph below we can see how formal learning environments are concentrated on the first 20 years of life and are reduced after, while informal learning opportunities remain througout life.

One clear example of lifewide learning can be all the Coursera courses available to the public, which range from language and culture to professionalization courses. However the courses are not all the same, not even if they are in the same platform.

One of the lectures addresses the problem that this concept has been warped in real life as a way to de professionalize teachers, especially with online courses. Meaning that they assume that just uploading videos and some readings is the equivalent of givings someone an education.

It's true that lifelong learning shifts a lot of the responsability of learning into the hands of the individual, however that doesn't mean it should rely entirely on them. I believe that for some people it can work out perfectly fine with just that, but they are probably also the ones who would excel in a traditional classroom. It assumes everyone has the same capabilities to form their own structure and stick to it without any problems. It also doesn't take into account the fact that not everyone has the same access to technology or the knowledge to use it. 

While lifelong learning is fantastic, we can't disregard the fact that the way it has been implemented hasn't always been the best and it still has a long way to go.

On the other hand we have lifewide learning. Lifewide learning is about learning that occurs in everyday life, often without structured and sometimes even by accident. This is achieved by essentially passing through life and arising to new interests or challenges that are presented. It means people are always learning new things just by living their lives

A clear example of this is when someone travels someplace and goes on a tour. They don't necessarily mean for it to be a learning activity but they can end up learning about a place and it's history.

It has the great advantage that it doesn't rely on any kind of necessary structure, it happend by just living. That is why people that don't have access to certain means and technology will often improvise new and inventive solutions to their problems. It can be as easy as putting a plastic bottle around a tube to redirect the flow of water and as complex as making pottery that will function as a basic refrigerator.

Here we can see the different shapes lifewide learning occurs.

On the right side of the picture we an see some of the ways that lifewide learning happens in adults. It's a shame a lot of the time these types of learning experiences are disregarded since it's hard to measure and grade how much someone learns empirically. It's perhaps the longest relationship we have with education and one that often leads us to gaining abilities for everyday life.

Both of these concepts conform a whole in which learning can happen any time and any place, be it in a structured environment or by living through experiences. Education is then, not confined by being a certain age, being at school, or even explicit intention of learning. It would be interesting to see both of them implemented at the same time, with activities that would lead to the creation of knowledge awar from the confines of grading while at the same time having some structure to it that can lead back to a course. That might be a little ambitious but we can't disregard that it would lead to some unique learning experiences.

Sources:

Reyes-Fournier, Elizabeth. (2017). LIFELONG AND LIFEWIDE LEARNING.

Reischmann, Jost (2014): Lifelong and Lifewide Learning - a Perspective. In: Suwithida Charungkaittikul (ed): Lifelong Education and Lifelong Learning in Thailand. Bangkok, p. 286-309

Skolverket. (2000). Lifelong learning and lifewide learning. Stockholm.

Ed Tech - https://medium.com/@OfficeofEdTech/lifelong-and-lifewide-adult-learning-8b8933a336