Classroom Technology Learning

Prof. Mrs. Geeta Kamble and Mr. Narendra Sidhaye

There is a famous Chinese proverb

When planning for a year, plant corn.
When planning for a decade, plant trees.
When planning for life, train and educate people.

Globalization is no more a recent phenomenon in the world’s socio-economic system. The impact of globalization has been uneven and responses to it are varied in terms of its positive and negative dimensions the world over. Initial enthusiasm for globalization as a beneficial set of processes has yielded to an understanding that the phenomenon is largely associated with increasing social inequality within and between countries as well as instability and conflict.

Globalization has a multi-dimensional impact on the system of education. It has underlined the need for reforms in the educational system with particular reference to the wider utilization of information technology, giving productivity dimension to education and emphasis on its research and development activities.

Education is an important investment in building human capital that is a driver for technological innovation and economic growth. It is only through improving the educational status of a society that the multi-faceted development of its people can be ensured. In the post-industrialized world, the advanced countries used to derive the major proportion of their national income not from agriculture and industry but from the service sector. Since the service sector is based on imparting skills or training to the students and youth, the education sector is the most sought after. It must provide gainful employment so that the sector is developed in a big way.

Whether we like or not, in coming century, all of us are going to be the citizens of this globe and not any particular country. So, we should prepare ourselves to face the challenges. The key to become successful in this highly technologically advanced world is to keep us abreast with latest knowledge and trends. One can’t afford to sit idle, only stick to orthodox ways but try to keep pace with developments. And the Key to it will be LIFE LONG LEARNING!

Lifelong learning is a term that is widely used in a variety of contexts; however its meaning is often unclear.  The term recognizes that learning is not confined to childhood or the classroom, but takes place throughout life and in a range of situations. During the last fifty years, constant scientific and technological innovation and change has had a profound effect on learning needs and styles. Learning can no longer be divided into a place and time to acquire knowledge (school) and a place and time to apply the knowledge acquired (the workplace).

Mark Twain said “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

There are several established contexts for lifelong learning beyond traditional “brick and mortar” schooling:

Home Schooling where this involves learning to learn or the development of informal learning patterns.
Adult Education or the acquisition of formal qualifications or work and leisure skills later in life.
Continuing Education which often describes extension or not-for-credit courses offered by higher education institutions.
Work Based Learning which includes professional development and on-the-job training.
Personal learning Environments or self-directed learning using a range of sources and tools including online applications

A Central Govt. report reads,

“Last year, fewer than 10% of working age undertook any training in India. This is manifestly not enough and if we do nothing about it then we will find it difficult to be part of an international economy and of societies in which knowledge and skills are becoming obsolete ever more quickly. The time has come to act and not just think about it.

Skill and competence enhancement in the new economy in India requires that the policy emphasis is shifted towards increasing investment in human capital and in raising participation in education and training throughout working life. To keep pace with developments in technology, globalization and new business practices, particular attention should be given to workplace training – an important dimension of our strategy for lifelong leaning.”

I personally feel that the Govt. should come out with Master Plan that contributes to the realization of Indian area of lifelong learning, the objectives of which should be both to empower citizens to meet the challenges of the knowledge-based society and to meet the goals and ambitions of Globalization.

Firstly proposing a Broad Definition of lifelong learning, recognizing that learning takes place in a broad range of settings, across the whole life span, and with a variety of aims.
Secondly, the “building blocks” of coherent and comprehensive strategies for lifelong learning are to be set out in order to assist States and other actors in developing and implementing such strategies.
Thirdly, concrete proposals for actions at all levels to be developed, supporting and adding value to national strategies. This includes a comprehensive new approach to valuing learning, which will allow citizens to move freely between learning settings, jobs and countries, making the most of their knowledge and competences.
Finally, the implementation of these structures, processes, programmes and instruments.

Assuming the public school system hasn’t crushed your soul, learning is a great activity. It expands your viewpoint. It gives you new knowledge you can use to improve your life. Even if you discount the worldly benefits, the act of learning can be a source of enjoyment.

But in a busy world, it can often be hard to fit in time to learn anything that isn’t essential. The only things learned are those that need to be. Everything beyond that is considered frivolous. Even those who do appreciate the practice of lifelong learning, can find it difficult to make the effort.

 Here are some tips for installing the habit of lifelong learning.

1) Always have a book – It doesn’t matter if it takes you a year or a week to read a book. Always strive to have a book that you are reading through, and take it with you so you can read it when you have time. Just by shaving off a few minutes in-between activities in my day I can read about a book per week. That’s at least fifty each year.

2) Keep a “To-Learn” List – We all have to-do lists. These are the tasks we need to accomplish. Try to also have a “to-learn” list. On it you can write ideas for new areas of study. Maybe you would like to take up a new language, learn a skill or read the collective works of Shakespeare. Whatever motivates you, write it down.

3) Get More Intellectual Friends – Start spending more time with people who think. Not just people who are smart, but people who actually invest much of their time in learning new skills. Their habits will rub off on you. Even better, they will probably share some of their knowledge with you.

4) Guided Thinking – Albert Einstein once said, “Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” Simply studying the wisdom of others isn’t enough; you have to think through ideas yourself. Spend time journaling, meditating or contemplating over ideas you have learned.

5) Put it Into Practice – Skill based learning is useless if it isn’t applied. Reading a book on C++ isn’t the same thing as writing a program. Studying painting isn’t the same as picking up a brush. If your knowledge can be applied, put it into practice.

6) Teach Others – You learn what you teach. If you have an outlet of communicating ideas to others, you are more likely to solidify that learning. Start a blog, mentor someone or even discuss ideas with a friend.

7) Clean Your Input – Some forms of learning are easy to digest, but often lack substance. Great blogs can be a powerful source of new ideas. But every few months I realize I’m collecting posts from blogs that I am simply skimming. Every few months, purify your input to save time and focus on what counts.

Learn in Groups – Lifelong learning doesn’t mean condemning yourself to a stack of dusty textbooks. Join organizations that teach skills. Workshops and group learning events can make educating yourself a fun, social experience.

9) Unlearn Assumptions – You can’t add water to a full cup. I always try to maintain a distance away from any idea. Too many convictions simply mean too few paths for new ideas. Actively seek out information that contradicts your worldview.

10) Find Jobs that Encourage Learning – Pick a career that encourages continual learning. If you are in a job that doesn’t have much intellectual freedom, consider switching to one that does. Don’t spend forty hours of your week in a job that doesn’t challenge you.

11) Start a Project – Set out to do something you don’t know how. Forced learning in this way can be fun and challenging. If you don’t know anything about computers, try building one. If you consider yourself a horrible artist, try a painting.

12) Follow Your Intuition – Lifelong learning is like wandering through the wilderness. You can’t be sure what to expect and there isn’t always an end goal in mind. Letting your intuition guide you can make self-education more enjoyable. Most of our lives have been broken down to completely logical decisions, that making choices on a whim has been stamped out.

13) The Morning Fifteen – Use the first fifteen minutes of your morning as a period for education. If you find yourself too groggy, you might want to wait a short time. Just don’t put it off later in the day where urgent activities will push it out of the way.

14) Reap the Rewards – Learn information you can use. Understanding the basics of programming allows me to handle projects that other people would require outside help. Meeting a situation that makes use of your educational efforts can be a source of pride.

15) Make it a Priority – Few external forces are going to persuade you to learn. The desire has to come from within. Once you decide you want to make lifelong learning a habit, it is up to you to make it a priority in your life.

 References

Lifelong Learning and the New Educational Order by John Field (Trentham Books, 2006)
The Rapture of Maturity: A Legacy of Lifelong Learning by Charles D. Hayes
SELF-UNIVERSITY: The Price of Tuition is the Desire to Learn. Your Degree is a Better life by Charles D. Hayes ISBN 0-9621979-0-4
Beyond the American Dream: Lifelong Learning and the Search for Meaning in a Postmodern World by Charles D. Hayes ISBN 0-9621979-2-0
Central Government Committee report on Continuous Training during employment.
Grandevetro/Jaca Book, Milano 2007 ISBN 978-88-16-40804-3
Aspin, David N. (2007) ‘Lifelong Learning Concepts and Conceptions’ In Philosophical Perspectives on Lifelong Learning, Springer, Netherlands, ISBN 1402061927
Fischer, G (2000) ‘Lifelong Learning – More than Training’ Journal of Interactive Learning Research, V11 N3 pp265-294
Field, John (2006) Lifelong Learning and the New Educational Order Trentham Books, 2006 ISBN 1-85856-346-1
“Academy of Lifelong Learning” University of Delaware (2006). Retrieved on 2006-05-06.
“Wszechnica Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego” The Jagiellonian University (2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-15.

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