Developing Life Long Learners

Developing lifelong learners is a core value of Avondale Grammar School and is a goal of modern education today. With the twenty-first century changing so fast it is essential that your students and their teachers remain open to continuous learning.

Current statistics show students in your classroom, on average, will have 10-14 different careers in their lifetime – not jobs, careers. Ian Jukes, Director of the InfoSawwy Group, states it takes four years to train at university to become an Engineer. He notes that by the time this person has been in the workforce for two years up to 60% of what was taught at university is obsolete. In the field of biotechnology it takes only one year for half of what you know to be outdated. And recent statistics show that every 10 months in the medical field, 50% of information has changed.

Learning doesn’t stop at three o’clock or when students leave school – it is lifelong. The ability to learn is a sustainable skill, which students take into the future and is paramount for success. Therefore the role of the parent and teacher in the learning process is most influential in shaping a young person’s life. The ability to reflect and question is an important skill for learners and teachers to develop (Posner, 1996).  One of Einstein’s famous quotes is his definition of “insanity”. “Do the same thing. Expect a different result”. “Do your students make the same mistakes over and over again without learning the lesson? Are they blasé about learning and improvement? Do they look at their test results and think: “I passed” and put it in a drawer?

Ways you can encourage students Here are some of the ways you can encourage students to remain open to new learning, self development and personal growth:

• Encourage students to tackle problems and opportunities to learn. Give them real life problems and make sure the opportunities provided are relevant and contain realistic learning your students can apply to real life
• Develop a classroom culture where it is acceptable for students to make mistakes and learn from them. Rename ‘mistakes’ as ‘learning experiences’ so the focus is on learning
• Allow time to reflect on what they have learned and to conduct an analysis of experiences.
• Give students opportunities to apply and transfer learning to new situations
• Develop a classroom and school culture where students are excited about learning and improvement and do more than “enough to pass the test”
• Ask students: “What did you learn today?” and “What would you change to make it better?”
• Encourage students to journal or write a daily diary with their own personal reflections and learning. This is a beneficial way to follow progress
• Read books about and study successful people to see how they have been continuous learners

One of the best ways to help students become lifelong learners is to model this trait yourself.  Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “What you are speaks so loudly, they can’t hear what you say”.  Students take your lead. If they see you hesitate when confronted with a learning opportunity they will often do the same, approach new learning with wonderment and excitement.  Research by Sprinthall and Theis-Sprinthall states that: “Educators are the only professionals who remain at the same levels of cognitive, moral, ego, and social development throughout their professional careers”.

Remember there is more to your life than your career and intellectual development. Continue to learn and grow in your social, physical, family and spiritual aspects as well.   Jim Rohn, a noted motivator, says “Don’t ask that your job or life is easier, ask that you were better”.

The study of successful people from all cultures and backgrounds reveals the ability to learn and grow from experiences as a top, essential skill.  Ethyl Barrymore, actress once said: “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts”.  The teachers at Avondale encourage the children to question and will continue in their quest to develop a culture of lifelong learning – so important.                  (Andrew Coote, Head of Avondale Grammar School)