What are lifelong learning skills
Lifelong learning is a form of self-initiated education that is focused on personal and professional development. Formal education maximizes the potential chances to find better, satisfactory jobs, or become successful in an elected career. However, lifelong learning enhances learner’s understanding of the world, provides them with better opportunities, and improves the overall quality of life. In recent times of modern society, these useful lifelong skill sets have become even more prominent since the digital revolution produces new forms of reading and writing, as well as the diversification of other information sources.
Building Lifelong Learning Skills in Students
Most educators want their students to succeed both in and out of the classroom. The idea is to prepare them for life’s upcoming challenges, in essence, to make sure that they become responsible learners and obtain an optimistic mindset. The list of lifelong learning skills is broad and diverse, and it is beneficial to constantly upgrade them. These skills can transform and stem in a positive way for our society. In a nutshell, the acquisition of useful learning skills helps us work, learn, and live better.
Lifelong learning skills are often related to numerous soft skills such as time management, problem-solving, technology usage, flexibility, or resolving a conflict. Along with many benefits, these skills also help to tackle the building of relationships. Taking this into account, acquiring lifelong skills is useful to everyone whether it’s a student, teacher, or a parent.
Encouraging Independent Learning
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the disruption of face-to-face teaching in schools led to 1.6 billion students switched to adapt to a more challenging alternative, remote learning. While some students were able to keep up with the transition to remote schooling, many others, particularly young and socio-economically disadvantaged learners experienced large learning losses. The key attitude to combat such inequalities is to make up a lifelong learning mindset. Such as motivating students to complete tasks and focus on reading. These attitudes are especially vital during school closures when students learn at their own speed or need to organize work on their own. It can help students to perform in school and strive to continue learning. It’s also important to showcase the rewards of taking such responsibility. This includes higher self-esteem, pride in achievement, and the independence they desire. It also adds to their ability to help others around.
Develop Innovation and Creativity
Encouraging the development of innovative and creative skills in the classroom via implementing project-based learning and converting passion and ideas into innovative products should be on every teacher’s agenda as a way to help equip students with the 21st-century skills they will require to succeed in the future.
Upskill Critical Thinking
Encouraging students to think critically can influence them to become lifelong learners. Exposing students to a variety of ideas and information and letting them consider having their own opinion in a matter, will inspire interest, curiosity, boost cognitive abilities, influence personal experience, and augment inner critic food for thought for a lifetime.
Communicational Skills
In today’s digital world, communication has transformed beyond vis-a-vis interaction. Technology has integrated into every aspect of communication. Even so, whatever medium we select there are skills needed to communicate in an effective manner. By developing communicational skills, students can have a wider perspective of co-operation, empathy, adaptability, better relationships, enhanced productivity, and leadership values.
Guiding to Reflect
Acquiring a new set of skills and knowledge is always beneficial for various purposes. However, such knowledge is not adequate if we do not consider the way it helped us or others. To reflect and raise questions to find the reason is always necessary for any type of learning process. This develops wisdom and provides insight into hidden experiences and awareness.
In recent times of modernization, lifelong learning attitudes have become even more crucial in fostering the resilience and adaptation of youngsters. Parents, teachers, and educational sectors must increase their interweaving roles to play part in the socio-emotional development of students by stimulating fondness with learning and developing basic life skills, so they can grab excellent opportunities for a better future.
Sadaf Ahmad is a freelancer and she is an intern at STUDENTINN. She is also contributing to Pakstudy.XYZ, and MainHOONPakistan.
