e-Learning Ecologies MOOC’s Updates
Lifelong Learning as Part of Ubiquitous Learning
Lifelong learning is the “’ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge’ for either personal or professional reasons” regardless of age, which may involve either formal or informal learning experiences[1]. It is often characterized by its expansiveness. Lifelong learning is not confined to school-age learners. It is not confined to formal learning experience offered by educational institutions. It is not limited to professional training. Lifelong learning recognizes that human beings are learning beings who engage in knowledge acquisition and meaning making across time and in a variety of spaces.
Lifelong learning is often associated with the “learning economy” or “learning society.” While lifelong learning is a characteristic of an individual, the learning economy or learning society is a characteristic of a social collective. The concept of the learning society adopted as a philosophical framework by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This framework posits a link between knowledge work and economic development, where the ability to learn becomes the chief process needed to advance both national and individual economic activity.[2] The learning economy or learning society arose in response to rapid technological changes that necessitate people continually acquire new knowledge and skills to stay abreast of these social changes.[3]
An example of lifelong learning that involves continuing education in a formal setting is the network of Lifelong Learning Institutes established by the Bernard Osher Foundation. This philanthropic organization, established in 2000, funds programs targeted at enrolling older adults who want to take courses for no credit and not engage in summative assessments like tests and grades.[4] The goal is to involve older adults in their own ongoing enjoyment of learning.
[1] Wikipedia Entry for “Lifelong Learning” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifelong_learning (June 4, 2017)
[2] Wikipedia Entry for “Learning Society” at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_society (June 4, 2017)
[3] Economist, Lifelong Learning is Becoming an Economic Imperative at http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21714169-technological-change-demands-stronger-and-more-continuous-connections-between-education
[4] Bernard Osher Foundation site http://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php
Thanks for a great post on lifelong learning, Gregory, and for your personal testimony about learning throughout life, Stephanie. I must say that I really like lifewide learning, Rita. Thanks for that. In one sense, learning is what human beings do best. It's what our brains are wired to do and it's a natural propensity for just about all of us. We can either cultivate that propensity, sharpen our skills, improve our performance. Or we can just benefit from it. The advantage to thinking systematically about lifelong learning, framing and monitoring our lifelong and lifewide learning, is that we get better at it, are able to make better connections among disparate fields and construct increasingly robust meaning for ourselves and others. With some luck and a bit of good-willed intentionality, our ongoing learning can help make the world a better place. My two Euro centimes. -Robert
@Stephanie Koshin, Mary Kalantzis also introduced me to the term lifewide learning. I think it is a great complement to lifelong learning.
Your thoughts on life long learning really resonate with me at the moment. Having started a new career path from school based, classroom teaching to now being in a curriculum role in eLearning I am expanding my experiences everyday. Today is day 1 in this MOOC and the new vocab and learning I am already having is amazing! Life long learning indeed! :)