Week 2 - Blog Posting #4 -21st Century Skills & Lifelong Learning

Life Long Learning

“If you’re not willing to be dedicated to learning something new everyday, then you are not willing to do what it takes to succeed” (Gitomer, 2008). Basically, I think this should be the motto for life long learning. I loved that the Jeffrey Gitomer video shared the 12 points of how to be a life long learner. Some of the points made that stood out to me were: Attend new seminars, join toastmasters or public speaking group, and spend 30 minutes everyday learning something new. Though I don’t always do it myself, I see that there is much value in taking 30 minutes every day to find out something new. Also, I found that his stress on toastmasters to be very intriguing because when I was in junior high my parents made me join a student club of toastmasters. I did learn a lot from learning how to present and prepare speeches. I also find that it is important for teachers to attend seminars and workshops to learn and stay updated on the various things going on in the educational field. According to Ruth Reynard, “The problem with all of what we currently do in the general scope of education is that we, the educators, hold on to how we learned and how we process information and knowledge rather than thinking through the realties of how new students and future students think and process and the challenges they will bring to our courses,” (Reynard, 2008). Too many times, I have witnessed many of my colleagues, teach the same grade, the same subject area at the same school as they started teaching at, without ever moving to a new building and/or teaching a different subject area. Many times these teachers teach the same way they have always taught without changing anything about their subject areas, style or approach. Compared to teachers who attend training and workshops, I find that people view teachers who resist learning as less credible.

Collaboration is another thing that I believe is a key aspect of life long learning. From reading Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, I was reminded of the importance of groups. “Many jobs that we regard as province of a single mind actually require a crowd,” and “When we change the way we communicate, we change society” (Shirky, 2008). Personally, I find when working with others I am challenged, and I am forced to decipher meaning of various topics when I interact with others who may have different thoughts and opinions from my own.

So what does it take to be a life long learner? This is what it takes: Dedication, personal challenges, persistent training, analysis of self and others, communication and collaboration with others.

Resources

Gitomer, J. (2008, April 19). Life Long Learning. Retrieved on September 14, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6yd6wfCgU&feature=player_embedded

Reynard, R. (2008, April 24). 21st century teaching and learning. The Journal. Retrieved on September 14, 2009 from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2008/04/24/21st- Century-Teaching-and-Learning- Part-1.aspx?Page=1

Shirky, C. (2008). Here comes everybody: the power of organizing without organizations. London: The Penguin Group.