TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Contents

Page
3.0 The different
ways in engaging
life-long learning
3.1
Always read a
lot
3.2
Surround yourself with smart company
3.0 The different ways in engaging life-long learning
3.1 Always read a lot
3.2 Surround yourself with smart company
3.0 The different ways in engaging life-long learning
3.1 Always read a lot
3.2 Surround yourself with smart company
3.3 Teach others whatever you have learned
3.4 List out the things that you want to learn
3.5 Go for an own project
3.6 Try a new way method to learn
3.7 Take part in a study group
3.8 Look for a job which welcomes learning and
collaborations
3.9 Prioritize life-long learning!

4.0 What schools should do to prepare young learners to be

life-long learners
4.1 Welcome and encourage curiosity at all ages
4.2 Let the kids to learn to solve the problems on their
own way.
4.3 Let the kids to be creative
4.4 Teach inventiveness
4.5 Make them realize that learning happens every minutes
and every day
4.6 The teachers should introduce the kids with New
Places and New Experiences
4.7 Nourish The Kids' Passions
4.8 Always be prepared for a question from the students!
4.9 Guide Kids To enhance Their Vocabulary

1
5.0 The challenges been faced when engaging in life-long learning.

6.0 Conclusion

1.0 INTRODUCTION
We have heard an inspiring quote from a Albert Einstein saying “intellectual growth
should commence at birth and cease only at death”. Well, it clearly shows about life-long
learning. What is life-long learning? How it is done? What is the purpose of this life-long
learning? The answers are, life-long learning can be considered as a preparation or
utilization of learning opportunities rather it be formal or informal throughout the whole
life of a person to improve continuously and gain knowledge with skills needed for
his/her work purpose or for the person’s own satisfaction. It is done throughout the
person’s life since he/she is born till death. Be it at home like cooking, gardening or
cleaning or at school for studies and at workplace as in working skills, communication
and presentation skills or for personal satisfaction like tailoring, dancing, baking and
singing or playing musical instruments. Al these are done to improve and to keep the
person up to date and knowledgeable. Nowadays social medias like Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram and WhatsApp is also learnt by everyone without realizing it.

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss about the importance of life-long learning and the
different ways to engage in this learning.

2.0 The importance of life-long learning

Life-long learning does not require the person’s age, education status or the working or
non- working status as well. Knowledge can be earned throughout one’s life and it is very
important for the person to keep on learning as it will always benefit them.

When one pursue his/her diploma or degree in studies by taking some courses, it may be
rewarded with some certificates but it cannot be the main object to achieve. It is far

2
beyond that. The goals might not be determined yet in life-long learning initially. The
life-long learners able to keep themselves driven towards their passion for extra
knowledge and self-improvement, or they might be having a big dream to become an
important personnel in their office’s management.

2.1 Life-long learning enhances life-long benefits

Apart from gaining more knowledge, lifelong learning can keep the body and mind is
shape. Researches has been done and the result was saying that if a cognitive activity is
done continuously, it will cause a positive effects to brain cells and helps mental
sharpness, especially it benefits the senior citizens to keep on track without not forgetting
easily.

When a person takes exercise classes like yoga, aerobic or dance classes, learning
swimming or even engaging in martial arts classes it can benefit them physically too.
Apart from benefitting physically it can make the person enjoy his/her life in a positive
way. Can be said it is a way to spend the time beneficially too.

Signing up for new classes and hobbies can benefit the life-long learner as an educational
or social activity. They tend to get new circles of friend with same interests and can
mingle with the society they care too. It helps to lessen the stress and loneliness of the
learner. Indirectly they can travel with their newly met friends with same interests to
explore the globe and different cultures around the world.

2.2 Learning for Personal Satisfaction.

We have always longed to learn something in our lives since from our childhood. Perhaps
always wanted to learn to play guitar, learn photography or singing in an orchestra.
Lifelong learning enhances your life with the matters that increases curiosity, simply
because you wanted to know why, how and why. The subject may e important to you, but
you don’t need to be enrolled to a college to obtain degree to improve your knowledge or
develop your own interest.

3
2.3 Learning to improve Professionally
To achieve in the working world, one need to consolidate and round out the skills they
need through life-long learning. For example, the mostly required technical skills in
computing as in Microsoft Office, Accounting software and GST tax submission are in
demand nowadays.

But it depends in the nature of your work; your management might inform or request
yourself to learn or provide the necessary courses and seminars for you to learn and
perform better in your job. Not everyone will get these kinds of opportunities, but once
you get a chance you better utilize it may give you a professional growth. In case the life-
long learner is not employed currently, the learning of these skills will help them to get
their desired job with a good pay too.

3.0 The different ways in engaging life-long learning

Figure 3.1 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

4
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (refer Figure 3.1), learning is about
embracing your full potential and can help you achieve self-actualization, the highest
need. However traditional education system broadly has a start and a n end by taking
examinations. But life-long learning is far different from traditional learning. It needs
learner’s desire to obtain knowledge and skills only. Learning continuously is the way to
keep up in this fast phased era which we live in today. There a numerous ways to engage
in life-long learning as follows:-

3.1 Always read a lot

Always stay curious, buy magazines, books, newspapers and always ask your friends for
the sources they found helpful as in books or journals. Apart from the printed sources,
you can always use the net too like Google Scholars which have a great number of e-
books.

3.2 Surround yourself with smart company

Always keep a good company and discuss with your friends, siblings and colleagues who
have abundant knowledge in whatever you are learning. They might be more experienced
or knowledgeable in the field that you are learning and they would not mind to share it
with you. At the end of the day, sharing is caring!

3.3 Teach others whatever you have learned

You does not to become a teacher by professional or join the teaching course to teach
others who wish to learn from you. Remember, by teaching others what you have learned
you are actually recalling whatever you learned and understanding it very well. If you
don’t understand what you have learned, how can you teach others? Indirectly it is a way
to test your knowledge.

3.4 List out the things that you want to learn

Listing out the things that you want to learn is a best way to help you get started. It is
advisable to research the things you have listed before you start learning whatever you
have wished for. You can gather more information about the subjects you are going to

5
learn and notes as well. One done listing and researching, you can decide which is best
for you and how you can start it successfully.

3.5 Go for an own project

When you start your own project, you will start it with goals and objectives. This will
help you to develop the idea of how you will be able to follow the opted process in the
future which can be applied in different situations.

3.6 Try a new way method to learn

Experimenting different types of methods to learn will help you to find the way that
sticks. Watching documentaries, listening to music, drawing diagrams and creating mind
maps to study are some alternative methods can be approached by learners. It will be fun
tough.

3.7 Take part in a study group

Find virtual learning teams online where you can mix and learn from other learners who
have various experiences. Gather the information and utilize it for your own learning
purpose.

3.8 Look for a job which welcomes learning and collaborations

Get a job whereby it encourages you to study and develop your skill set. Most

professional roles include some degree of learning whether it’s on the job training,

workshops or other educational encouragement.

3.9 Prioritize life-long learning!

Do not postpone by just keep saying ‘soon’. Decide firmly and start it today itself.

Whether you are a student, teacher or professional or other – always stand firmly your

decisions by prioritizing learning. If you waste your time by waiting it to happen itself,

6
the information you have will be limited and the ability to achieve the learning will be

prolonged. Make a difference today by moving forward to achieve your target!

4.0 What schools should do to prepare young learners to be life-long learners

To prepare young learners to become life-long learners, teachers from schools play an

important role in the kids' lives. Students spend more time with the teachers in school

rather than spending time with family. As such here are some tips on how school and

teachers can raise kids that want to become life-long learners.

4.1 Welcome and encourage curiosity at all ages

Toddlers learn by crawling, knocking things over and putting objects in their mouth.

Whereby young kids explore by asking too many questions and taking things apart. The

grown up kids will continue to sharpen their knowledge when they develop desires or

obsessions for a title or theme. No matter what age they belongs to, the teachers should

nurture their curiosity by giving them the answer give an idea on how to explore. The

teachers should allow them to ask questions, explore, read and examine the theories.

4.2 Let the kids to learn to solve the problems on their own way.

We always give the kids instructions step-by-step in their life which is important to give

them chances and questions that will challenge their thinking style. Rather than guiding

them, the teachers should let them make decisions on how are they going to solve a

problem or which strategy they want to follow. They should give them options than

7
guidance. For example, the teachers should allow the kids to learn note taking method on

their own rather than teaching them how to take note while in the class.

4.3 Let the kids to be creative

How a kid approach art is the way he/she display their creativity. If the color the sky in

orange or a pond in yellow, let them to go ahead. This just shows that their imagination

and the way they think is outside of the box. Meanwhile giving them the open-ended toys

such as art supplies, science kits, items for pretend play and blocks will develop their

creative skills.

4.4 Teach inventiveness

Kids should know that the teachers might not know all the answers for their questions but

that they can help the kids to fins the methods to answer the questions asked by them.

Let's say if they want to know what happens to a plant, if it was not watered. Let them

experiment it on their own at the school garden by guiding them. Are they curious about

the history of a soldier, direct them to a library and teach them how they can find the

book about the said soldier. By doing so, the teachers can get the student to get inventive!

4.5 Make them realize that learning happens every minutes and every day

The teachers should tell the children that learning doesn't simply happen when they are at

school. They should demonstrate to them how they take in consistently. Bring up that

they are adapting new aptitudes as they grow up, for example, tying their shoes or dealing

with the watercolors. Furthermore, the teachers should demonstrate to them that grown-

8
ups keep on learning by featuring a portion of the new things they're finding like

photography or drawing skills that they learn.

4.6 The teachers should introduce the kids with New Places and New

Experiences

It's important to take students to new places and urge them to attempt new experiences. It

causes them to relate what they've already learned so far with the unknown. Take sports

for instance: a kid who plays chess alone won't comprehend that different games have

different rules and regulations. And if the kid thinks that animals only live in the forest

and zoo, they can learn that there are many animals wandering free in nature too.

4.7 Nourish The Kids' Passions

Got a student who's crazy about something like rocks, dinosaurs, seashells? Urge them to

gather and find out about it! The teachers should guide them to get a book about their

passions in library and try to bring them to the places like museums and seashores for a

school trip to allow them observe and learn along with them.

4.8 Always be prepared for a question from the students!

Many of them! Why is it vital to welcome questions? It extends a kid's knowledge, keeps

their mind active and shows to them there's actually many ways to look at something. Try

not to be hesitant to talk about questions that might not have a good and clear answer like

"How wide is the sky?" or "Where does the stars when the sun comes?" These are the

9
issues that help kids shape opinions, the teachers should try to find a solution to the

problems and understand more about the teachers know and what they have yet to learn.

4.9 Guide Kids To enhance Their Vocabulary

Often, the kids will learn something new to them without realizing the exact terminology

or words. The teachers should make sure to share some new vocabulary as they are

exploring new places and ideas! Let's say if it is the first visit to a museum, introduce

words like 'sculpture' and 'artist', and clarify what they mean as the teachers see the

shows. On a visit to the zoo, the teachers should ask the kids what the animals are doing

and share new words to depict their conduct. The teachers also should encourage the

elder kids to read the news and introduce them to different types of books to further

enhance their vocabulary.

5.0 The challenges been faced when engaging in life-long learning.

Well, there are many challenges faced by the life-long learners for sure. As it happens

mostly to adults, they need to sacrifice their own leisure time to studies, doing

assignment, preparing thesis's, going for classes and do a group study if needed. They

would not have enough time to spend with family, friends or for themselves as well. All

they want to do when they are free is study, study and study! And if the learner is

married, have kids and working, that will be very problematic for them to balance their

time between family, job and studies. The challenges doesn't leave the kids as well, some

of them loves music and dancing, but their parent pressure them to excel in their studies

10
as well. Then they need to sacrifice their time for sports to spent for their studies, dancing

and singing class as well.

6.0 Conclusion

Figure 6.1 A motivational Quote of Pele the well known football player

According to Pele the well known football player of Brazil, he said that "Success is no

accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love

what you are doing or learning to do" (Figure 6.1). Yes, success could not be obtained

overnight. It needs sacrifice, the willingness to learn, hard work and the passion to learn.

Life-long learning is done every minutes, hours and days in our liver. Be it knowingly or

unknowingly. But it is done. So life-long learning will never fail a person if they learn

something benefit them and their society. People should be aware of what they choose to

learn for their life-long. Life-long learning is a never ending journey. Embrace it

gracefully and keep on learning till your last breath.

11
 ATTACHMENT

REFERENCES

Author’s name (year). Book, Title, Publication

12