“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it” – Albert Einstein.
The field of education is changing at such a breakneck speed that the challenges and complexities in the teaching career makes lifelong learning inevitable. The techniques and technologies imperative today will become obsolete within the next 10 years.
Today, teachers must imbibe varied visionary strategies, methods, and skills into their learning process to help develop students and ultimately themselves.
The most successful teaching careers are often accompanied by a lifelong learning mindset. Having that said, lifelong learning is often misinterpreted with having access to information but precisely it means consistent personal and professional enhancement.
Let’s dive a little deeper here.
What is a Lifelong Learning Mindset?
A lot has been written on lifelong learning and several debates are popular about its various professional and psychological eminence but in layman’s terms, lifelong learning is a mindset and a habit for people to acquire consistent and effective knowledge to understand and explore new and essential dimensions.
Now for teachers, lifelong learning works to amplify their capabilities, skills, and teaching approach to collaborate better with colleagues, and transform the education system altogether.
Let’s understand why exactly lifelong learning is crucial for a successful teaching career.
1. Staying Ahead of the Curve
Future-proof education is a myth, but the teaching career can make future-proof through lifelong learning by working on skills and knowledge before the need arises.
2. Filling the Skills Gap
The need for reskilling and upskilling should always be constant in the field of teaching. Teachers require consistent learning schedules for student betterment and for skills rather than titles. And the only way forward is to get acquainted with an endless stream of knowledge.
3. Learners Want to Invest in Themselves
According to the Emeritus Global Consumer Sentiment 2021 Report, learners seek education to future-proof themselves in the race for possessing the latest armoury of skills and knowledge.
4. Future of Learning is Online
Future of teaching is quite bright but involves consistent lifelong learning. Almost 65% of teachers responded to a global survey claiming their interest in pursuing online education has increased, as opposed to the pre-pandemic world. Thanks to its convenience and safety, e-learning is preferred by most learners.
5. Lifelong Learning Fosters Creativity
He references a study that shows that lifelong learning positively influences creativity in individuals, groups, organizations, and countries. He also contends that for people to thrive in the 21st century, they must have the ability to proficiently use new technologies and media; learning to use these new technologies and media is a key component of lifelong learning.
