From Independent Learner to Lifelong Learner

 “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

John Dewey

What is Lifelong Learning?

It is the provision of both formal and informal learning opportunities throughout people’s life in order to foster the continuous development and improvement of the knowledge and skills needed for employment and personal fulfillment. In other words Lifelong learning is “all purposeful learning activity, undertaken on an ongoing basis with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competence”.

Basic capabilities for lifelong learning

Key competences for lifelong learning are a blend of knowledge, skills and attitudes suitable to the context. They are principally essential for personal achievement and development, social inclusion, active citizenship and employment. These are;

Communication in the mother tongue:

It is the capacity to communicate and interpret ideas, thoughts, feelings, details and opinions in equally oral and written form and to interact linguistically in a proper and innovative way in a variety of societal and cultural contexts.

Communication in foreign languages: 

It engages, in addition to the core skill scopes of communication in the mother tongue, arbitration and intercultural understanding. The level of adeptness depends on numerous aspects and the ability for listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Mathematical competence and basic capabilities in science and technology: 

Mathematical competence is the capability to expand and relate mathematical thinking in order to solve variety of problems in daily circumstances.  Vital competences in science and technology refer to the mastery, application of knowledge and methodologies that clarify the natural world. These involve an understanding of the transformations caused by human activity and the accountability of each individual as a citizen.

Digital capabilities:

 It involves the confident and significant use of information society technology (IST) and consequently fundamental skills in information and communication technology (ICT).

Learning to learn: 

It is related to learning, the capacity to practice and manage one's own learning, either individually or in groups, according to one's own needs, and knowledge of means and opportunities.

Social and civic capabilities: 

Social capability refers to personal, interpersonal and intercultural ability and all forms of behavior that prepares individuals to participate in a successful and productive way in social and professional life. It is associated to personal and social welfare. An understanding of codes of conduct and customs in the different environments in which individuals work is vital.

Sense of creativity and private enterprise:

 It is the talent to spin ideas into action. It engages originality, novelty and venturesome, as well as the capacity to plan and supervise projects in order to achieve objectives. The person is conscious of the context of his/her work and is able to grab opportunities that come up.

Cultural vigilance and expression: 

It involves admiration of the value of the artistic expression of ideas, experiences and emotions in a range of media (music, performing arts, literature and the visual arts).

These key capabilities of lifelong learning are all interdependent, and the stress in every case is on critical thinking, novelty, problem solving, initiative, hazard assessment, decision making and constructive management of feelings.