21st Century Skills and Lifelong Learning: this topic incorporates 2 ideas that can be discussed as independent topics or can be viewed as 1 topic with 2 parts that are dependent on each other. I would like to propose that lifelong learning is now dependent upon 21st century skills. Lifelong learning is the goal, and 21st century skills are the vehicles of achieving that goal.
Our brains are designed to learn and to keep learning. Lifelong learning has a different interpretation by each person depending on that person’s experiences, skills, and desires. For me, lifelong learning involves engaging in professional development opportunities, participating in discussions and Bible studies that will challenge and further my knowledge of my faith, taking initiative to understand the world around me, and developing the skills needed to pursue hobbies and interests. A person can pursue his or her own lifelong learning easily if they have the foundation of 21st century skills. Technology creates avenues for the everyday person to research and communicate with others who already have the knowledge.
The British Council has determined that lifelong learning should be a goal for each of its citizens. To support this initiative, the British Council has set up a European funding program that provides all of its citizens a variety of opportunities to further their educations (http://www.lifelonglearningprogramme.org.uk/). They use a website to make this program useable by everyday people.
For some, lifelong learning may not be career oriented. An example of this might be someone who has disabilities. Their lifelong learning may be focused on regaining the life they once had. It struck me that stroke victims were used as an example of this, because my mom had a stroke 2 ½ years ago at the age of 48. Basically, my mom’s entire communication center in her brain died. She is mentally capable, but cannot communicate, even in the most basic ways. Initially, she was only able to say a word (ga-bon) that has no meaning to anyone else but represents everything she was trying to say. In the past 2 ½ years, my mom has gone from saying “ga-bon”, “yes”, and “no” with about 10% accuracy to now having a vocabulary of about 50 names and words that she can use with about 80% accuracy. She is able to write about 100 names and words, though she cannot put words together to create phrases or sentences yet. I visit home about every 6 months, and each time, the gains she has made are incredibly evident. She is a woman who is very determined to be a lifelong learner, and her brain is responding by creating new pathways and connections with each passing day. Interestingly enough, although she cannot speak more than a few different words each day, she can sing songs from childhood with no problem. She cannot speak the words of the song, but she can certainly put the tune to the words and sing it. The video I have included is of her singing one of these songs about 1 year after her stroke. The brain is amazing!
Lifelong learning is a community event. “Furthermore, a sense of self as a learner is formed in relationship, and understood as one learns to tell one’s own story, as a participant in the conversation of the learning community” (Crick 2005). I cannot continue learning anything without involving other people. My mom cannot learn to speak again without therapists to give her ideas, people to practice dialogue with, and befriending those that are in similar situations. Students are the best learners when they have the ability to bounce ideas off of others and to reflect and refine their thinking.
Some people use the Internet, particularly social networks, to connect to others, share information, and gain new information. My mom has learned to use Facebook as a tool to practice communicating 2-3 word sentences. Her most recent message to me (originally written with assistance but typed by her) said, “I like camping. I went hiking.” She is connected to family and friends as well as others who have similar conditions. I am connected to family, friends, colleagues, and peers.
The overarching question is how can I prepare my current students to be lifelong learners? Obviously, teaching 21st century skills are going to be essential in equipping students for the future learning. Students need to be able to differentiate from valid information, as well as bogus information. They need to be able to think, to create, to reflect, to analyze, and to understand the world around them.
Crick, R. & Wilson, K. (2005). Being a learner: A virtue for the 21st century [Abstract]. British Journal of Educational Studies. 53(3), 359-374. Abstract retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
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