Lifelong learning

Lifelong learning

 

          In order to obtain a good career in life, people need qualifications as well as skills and experiences. People need motivation in order to enjoy and process the information to complete the course and it needs to be purpose driven. There is a desire to gain a better eduction to live a better life financially, keep up with changing technology or help children with their work.

         In modern society, there is a greater need for people to hold diverse qualifications for jobs. For this to happen, people are required to continue on to further education after school, or return to University or further education college much later in life (Mason, 2000).
          Further education colleges offer more diverse perspectives on the learners goals, achievements, curricula and pedagogy. They are based on their needs rather then what they must be teaching them (Usher et al, 1997).        
        The European Commission (1995 cited in Burgess, 1997, p.99) state that,

    'There is a need to wet society's appetite for education and training throughout life. Everyone must be able to seize their opportunities for improvement in society and for personal fulfilment, irrespective of their social origin and educational background.'

 

However, there are barriers preventing adults who want to return to education. This includes lack of time, family commitments, lack of finances or disabled adults.

There are many lifelong learning courses available to mature students. These include access courses, vocational training, open university courses, university of the third age, Erasmus Mundus programme, Leonardo Da Vinci's vocational training, Comenius school education, Grundtvig adult education, apprenticeships and many more!






                               Examples of lifelong learning


http://www.lifelonglearningprogramme.org.uk/#sthash.uCdFP0zG.dpbs

 

 

Schools

 

 

 

Vocational education and training

 

 

Higher education

 

 

Adult education

 

 

Learning professionals

 

University of third age

  

      Huang (2006) states that the University of the third age was originated from France and for the attention of older adults wanting to do educational activities. It was designed to offer opportunities for adults to attend the University during summer.

      'Third age' relates to the second age stages of an adults life coming to an end. This is where adults have freedom to extend their minds and personal choice on what they want to learn. This does not necessarily have to be at a college or university, but can be self directed learning in a more relaxed environment (English, 2005)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JAQrAntfHw

 

 

Vocational courses/training

 

        

             Since the changing economic system within Europe, there has be a substantial increase in students taking vocational courses. Companies recruit part time employees rather than full time, offer short term contracts rather than long term which is the reasoning behind adults wanting to be more flexible and have the ability to multitask (Burgess, 1997).


 

Erasmus Mundus



 

 

          The Erasmus Mundus programme supports co-operation between non EU states and EU universities. The programme offers the top universities where students can study masters courses (Education and training, 22.4.13, p.64)

 

 

The Kolb Cycle

 

         The Kolb cycle of experiential learning has been an influence of the learning process theory.It suggests that reflecting turns an experience into learning, which becomes effective learning progressing onto further experimentation (English,  2005).

          The cycle begins with concrete experience, when a person is encountered with a new experience or situation. The reflective observation then reflects upon that new experience or situation. The third stage is abstract conceptualisation which is based upon the reflective observation creating new ideas or alteration of an existing abstract concept. The cycle ends with active experimentation which the learner will apply and test the new ideas to see what results they gain.

 

 

http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html        

 

 





 

 

 

 

 

Useful websites for lifelong learning

 

 

 http://www.u3a.org.uk/


http://www.infed.org/lifelonglearning/b-life.htm



                                        References

 

Burgess, R. (1997), Beyond the first degree; graduate education, lifelong learning and careers. Buckingham. Open university press.


Education and training, 22.4.13, p.64, 'Erasmus'.

English, L. 2005. International encyclopedia of adult education. New York. Macmillan publishers.

 

Hung, C.S, (2006), ‘Educational gerontology’, The University of the third age in the UK, Volume 32, Number 10, Page 825.

 

Mason, A. 2000. APEL and lifelong learning. Belfast. University of Ulster.


Usher, R. Bryant, I. Johnston, R. 1997. Adult education and the postmodern challenge; learning beyond the limits. London. Routledge.