Following the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines
Throughout my life, it has become clear to me that many people decide once they completed their formal education, they believe that they are done learning. They receive their certificate, or degree, and they no longer have the desire to learn. From a young age, this appeared very sad to me, and I always wondered how I could avoid being this way. It is my wish to continue learning throughout my life, but in order to do this, there are many things that I need to understand. For instance, I need to be informed that I must be my own teacher, and take advantage of learning institutions around me. I should also donate to such establishments. Befriending individuals who can teach me things is also something that can help me, as a lifelong student. When I lose motivation, remembering all the benefits of lifelong learning, such as the propensity for a broader view of the world, and a better sense of myself will help me remember that what I am doing is worth it. In short, though it may be difficult, it is possible to be learning throughout our entire lives, and there is motivation to be found everywhere we look.
As stated in “Lifelong Learning,” by Keith W. Davies and Norman Longman, it is easy for us to be students when we are children . We are curious and have a natural desire to learn about the world around us because we do not know anything. As we grow, we learn enough to survive and the curiosity fades. Unfortunately, the traditional education system is not set up in a way that will feed this curiosity. Standardized tests and restrictions, as noted in, “Lifelong Learning in Action: Transforming Education in the 21st Century,” also by Norman Longworth, obstruct natural curiosity. Furthermore, as mentioned by Longworth, too much emphasis is put on obtaining a degree or certificate, and not of learning something new . This emphasis is what encourages students to stop learning after they leave school. They believe once they achieve the goal of getting a degree or certificate, their education is over and it is time to find a job and get on with life. Many do not understand that learning can be a part of life while other things are going on. In fact, there are many ways to overcome the obstacles erected by the traditional education system.
Peter Scales wrote a book entitled, “Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector.” In the book, Scales explains that there is no such thing as a “Lifelong Teacher,” one who follows students around their entire lives. As such, we must take the initiative. To help us, Scales outlines the various ways that students can not only remain lifelong students, but also become their own teachers. For example, Scales recommends that individuals always take advantage of establishments such as planetariums and museums, or any such event that exhibits information the individual may not know about or understand. Seminars and lectures were also something that Scales encouraged lifelong students to attend. Reading was another activity that could be engaged in at any time. Students can read anything, whether it be scholarly or not. The student is always learning when they read. Furthermore, Despina Tsakaris, author of, “Human Capital and Human Action in Lifelong Learning: Questions Concerning the Obvious Revival of a Seemingly Obvious Theory.” implored that students should donate and volunteer at the previously mentioned venues. Many of these events rely on public funding and they are the only way that some people may continue their education, which stressed to me how valuable my dollar is when it comes to donating. I am not technically give to the education of others, but to myself, instead.
Another way that I may continue as a lifelong student is to find others who can teach me. A common misconception with public education is that one must be in a classroom, in front of a teacher, in order to be gaining worthy knowledge. Scales also spoke of befriending others who can teach us things . Therefore, if I am to continue learning, I must realize that I do not have to be in a classroom, in front of a teacher in order to be learning; instead I can be anywhere, with anybody who knows about something that I do not. All I need to do is listening, and I will be able to learn. This is only emphasized by Susan M. Lord and associates’ research findings, documented in their article, “The Effect of Different Active Learning Environments on Student Outcomes Related to Lifelong Learning.” The team assessed students in traditional public schools who did not go on to college, those who did continue on to higher education, and finally individuals who were homeschooled. They found that the individuals who attended public school were the most confined and least likely to become lifelong students. The individuals who experienced higher education experienced fewer boundaries and had a higher chance of maintaining their desire to learn throughout their life. Individuals who were homeschooled had the highest chance of being lifelong students. This was found to be because they experienced the least amount of obstacles with the most open encouragement from educators, suggesting that, once again, too much emphasis is put on degrees in the public education system. Homeschooling places more emphasis on learning and, in many cases, this desire to learn does not fade . After learning this, I realized I needed to be aware of my surroundings, while trying to remember that traditional education may attempt to stifle my natural curiosity; I must not let it.
Attempting to learn throughout our lives can be exhausting, but the more I researched, the more I learned about why we must all continue to learn even if we have obtained degrees. “Gender, Masculinity, and Lifelong Learning,” written by Marion Bowl and his associates suggests that lifelong learning allow individuals to be more progressive and open to change . Lifelong learners are not as likely to adhere to typical gender roles or stereotypes because they have either learned about other ways of life, or they simply have a more open mind than individuals who thought learning was not worth their time after graduation . “The Learning Society: Challenges and Trends,” by Richard Edwards and his associates, also suggests that individuals who continue learning are more open to change . His study also suggested that these individuals remained more flexible, were better at solving complex problems, were more adaptable to change, and had a higher rate of satisfaction with their lives . Clearly, even if attempting to be a lifelong student proved to be a struggle, I would still attempt to for the sake of my happiness, as well as the other beneficial skills I would earn such as flexibility and adaptability.
In sum, being a lifelong learner is not an easy task. We all begin life as natural students, full of curiosity. Slowly, it appears that the traditional education system smothers that out of us. In order to maintain it, I must take it upon myself to be my own teacher by visiting museums and listening to lectures. I must also surround myself with people who can teach me things that I do not know. I must let go of the idea that I must be in a classroom in order to learn something of value. When it is difficult, I must keep in mind that I am opening myself to change and the progression of society. I am also making myself more adaptable to change, and increasing my satisfaction with life. Ironically, I have learned that learning from the cradle to the grave is the only way that I want to live my life.
Annotated References
Davies, W. K. (2014). Lifelong Learning. London: Routledge.
The book acted as a handbook for how to learn throughout one's life. There are many opportunities to learn every day. Whether it means visiting a museum or reading a new book, we do not have to stop learning when we leave school. We can learn how to cook a new dish, or perfect a new skill. In doing so, we learn more about our world and ourselves making us lifelong students.
The book taught me that it is very easy to continue being a student after I leave school. It also taught me how easy it was for me to be a student when I was younger. We are so curious when we are young. We are always studying things and learning how to do things for ourselves. Reading passages from the book reminded me that we should keep this curiosity in adulthood in order to maintain being students.
Edwards, R., Raggatt, P., & Small, N. (2013). The Learning Society: Challenges and Trends. London: Routledge.
The book was about the challenges and trends of attempting to be a lifelong student. There are many challenges that go with it. It can be boring and many do not want to continue learning after they are done with school. However, the trend with individuals that continue learning is higher life satisfaction, as well as a greater capacity to accept change. The book stated that lifelong learning was good for quality of life.
While reading the book, I learned that being a lifelong student is worth the effort. Though it may be difficult after I leave school, I would like to do whatever I can to have a better life. I would like to remain happy, and I would like to be flexible when it comes to change. Overall, the book did not teach me how to be a lifelong student, but it did teach me why I should strive to be one.
Findsen, B., & Formosa, M. (2012). Lifelong Learning in Later Life: A Handbook on Older Adult Learning. Chicago: Springer.
This book spoke about how lifelong learning is important for education, but also for other areas of life. While lifelong learning ensures that students will continue gaining knowledge, it also suggests that it can make society better. The article gave several examples: gender roles can be forgotten or interchanged if people continue to learn throughout their lives, and change their perspective. Men and women would not be bound to their traditional roles because lifelong learning would make people more progressive.
Longworth, N. (2009). Lifelong Learning in Action: Transforming Education in the 21st Century. Boston: Scribner.
Lifelong Learning in Action: Transforming Education in the 21st Century was a manual for transforming the current education system to encourage students to continue their education after they graduate. It explained that the education system often puts too much pressure on obtaining a degree, not obtaining knowledge. Once the student gets their degree, they feel as if they have met their goal, and they are finished with their education. The book explains that more emphasis needs to be put on learning and while certificates and degrees still need to remain in the curriculum, and need to be a goal, they should not be the primary goal.
After reading this, I realized the book is right. The education system is like this. Many people I know feel as if after they receive a degree they do not need to learn anything else and this is probably because getting a degree is set as the only goal to complete. Because I do not expect the education system to change overnight, I learned that I need to set the goal of learning for myself. From now on, learning will be my primary goal.
Lord, S. M., Prince, M. J., Stefanou, C. R., Stolk, J. D., & Chen, J. C. (2012). The Effect of Different Active Learning Enviornments on Student Outcomes Related to Lifelong Learning. INternational Journal of Engineering Education, 602-620.
This article examined different environments and the effect they have on students and lifelong learning. For example, students who do not go on to college have a lower capacity to be considered lifelong students. While college students are more likely to have lifelong student habits, it does not guarantee they will continue to learn. Homeschooled students are the most likely to continue learning throughout their lives. This, according to the article, was because the environment was more open and nurturing.
Once again, I was reminded that too much emphasis is put on degrees. If I hope to be a lifelong student, learning until I die, I need to focus on more than just getting a degree or certificate. I am not homeschooled, of course, but continuing my education is important. Because institutional education is not as nurturing as homeschooling, I must take it upon myself to be my own teacher now, instead of waiting until I graduate.
Scales, P. (2012). Teaching In The Lifelong Learning Sector. New York: McGraw-Hill International.
This book was about being a lifelong teacher. Essentially, it said there was no place for an official lifelong teacher. We must be our own lifelong teachers. IN doing so, we must nurture ourselves. We must also remain curious, and seek out sources that will teach us something. This includes people. Though there is no official place for lifelong teachers, it does not mean you cannot befriend people smarter than you can who can teach you something.
This book was very valuable and taught me many things about getting to know others on my journey to learning throughout my life. Many equate learning with being taught. Though this does not have to be the case, it never hurts to have a teacher. Until I read this book, I expected to be teaching myself, but now I realize that I can seek out others who can teach me things that I do not know, or that I want to learn. I should always be listening for things to learn, regardless of whom I am with. Learning should become a habit.
Tsakaris, D. (2014). Human Capital and Human Action in Lifelong Learning: Questions Concerning the Revival of a Seemingly Obvious Theory. Changing the European Area of Lifelong Learning, 109-119.
This short article was about attempting to give money to help the idea of lifelong learning. This has evidently been something that educational foundations in Europe have wanted to do for many years. However, they have always lacked the funds. Fundraising has continuously failed to meet demands, so instead the foundations use what little money they have to support libraries, planetariums, museums, and other alternative institutions of learning. All establishments welcome children and adults, in an effort to help foster lifelong learning at any age.
The article taught me that there we must help each other in the process of lifelong learning. Many establishments that would help me be a lifelong student rely on public funding and fundraising. I should remember this before I decide not to donate even a few dollars to a collection. It could help me continue learning, as well as help somebody else. It could also help get more government assistance, which would make lifelong learning easier.
