The purpose of this essay is to inform about lifelong learning. Lifelong learning starts from a place of curiosity and develops in to a pursuit of knowledge that benefits a person in their careers and daily lives. This essay will analyze the key characteristics of a lifelong learner which include curiosity, motivation, and self-discipline. Furthermore, the benefits of being a lifelong learner in the civilian world and in the military will be discussed as well.
Lifelong learning is “The self-directed, continuous quest to seek formal or informal education for personal enjoyment or to develop career skills” (Cooper, 2018). It is in many cases a voluntary effort to expand on knowledge of topics that interest one self. Some methods of learning are through class, coaching or self-taught. School or an internship is also good ways to conduct lifelong learning formally. Some informal methods are, like buying books on the topics that interest you and making time to read those (Capps, 2018). Within the military lifelong learning can be going to schools such as Basic Leaders Course or doing MOS specific training that improves retainability of soldiers. The skills learned in these schools are often applied to the military career or transferred into civilian life.
Lifelong learners possess certain characteristics such as curiosity, motivation and self-discipline. Lifelong learning comes from a place of curiosity. A person must be interested in the topic to want to learn about it. According to an article in psychology today a study found that “people who were curious about a topic retained what they learned for longer periods of time” (Prince-Mitchel, 2015). For example, students in schools may perform better at a subject if they are interested in it. Curiosity fuels motivation for learning. Being motivated keeps a person committed to their goals, like many doctors in the medical field who continually search for a cure for diseases like cancer.
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Reed.co.uk states lifelong learning is voluntary and is completely self-motivated to accomplish a set goal for personal or professional development (Cheary, 2017). Along with curiosity and motivation, self-discipline serves as an essential tool for lifelong learning. A person practicing self-discipline is focused on the end goal. They are also very self-directed to learn the material. A person practicing self-discipline does not see their mistakes as a setback but rather as a learning experience (Cobb, 2018). They self-assess their strengths and weaknesses and adjust accordingly with the goals in mind. Often times they know that they are trying to accomplish goals for the benefits and important applications it may bring.
The importance of being lifelong learners is shown in the benefits it brings. The two main areas in life people can grow in are professionally and personally. As the world is constantly changing it is vital to stay ahead and be adaptive. In 2016, The Pew Research Center found that 74% of American adults consider themselves “lifelong learners” (Horrigan, 2017). People continually develop and grow to new levels by learning new skills and things that are interesting. With the world advancing technologically it is important to maintain awareness by being current.
One of the major reasons people choose to be lifelong learners is job retention. The Pew Research Center states “12% of professionals who engaged in continued learning did it as insurance, wanting to keep their skills marketable for possible downsizing.” additionally “39% of professional learners said they continue their educations to work toward raises and promotions in their current jobs.” (Horrigan, 2017). Another reason people engage in lifelong learning is higher self-esteem. The more people know about the world around them the more confidence they have to engage in informative conversations.
Many teachers strive to make their students confident so that they can effectively communicate with the people around them. In a study conducted by the Center for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning, “92.5% of educators surveyed felt that their teaching imparted greater self-confidence to their students” (Don’t Stop: The Benefits of Lifelong Learning). Instilling confidence as a building block in students will set them up for success later on in life. The brain is the center of being, and people must continue to give it new challenges and opportunities so it can remain sharp and function at a high level. Some other benefits to lifelong learning include an increase in wisdom and understandings of the “whys” in the world. In many cases it can provide purpose and self-fulfillment of life.
The Military has shifted its focus on skill based training. The overall goal is for soldiers to think their way out of situations quickly and efficiently. This ability will have a positive effect on the readiness in our Army. Maj. Gen Larry D. Wyche states that the Adult learning principles will provide a baseline for soldiers to perform their jobs effectively and efficiently (Wyche, 2013) This will not only make the Soldiers more valuable to the military and the world but also enable the military to improve as a whole.
A successful lifelong learner is curious, motivated and self-disciplined while also being goal oriented. There are also many benefits to being a lifelong learner such as job retention, the ability to adapt, self-growth and a higher level of confidence. Lastly, the military has made it a goal to enable soldiers and make the army better through skill based learning. Lifelong learning starts from a place of curiosity and develops in to a pursuit of knowledge that benefits a person in their careers and daily lives.
