What impact has a passion for lifelong learning had on your teaching? Once the teacher has given the information to the student or coworker, he or she will often have to instruct the student on how to use the information. Can a teacher successfully educate students without becoming a lifelong learner? For others, the fact that your brain learns something new every day becomes a means to fight old age. ‘When you and I teach’, said Uwe gesturing to Brigitte, ‘there is something that frames up what we are doing, call it a plan, a purpose, some goals we want to achieve, but we have to be able to change what we are doing, modify it and be flexible. Each success, when used reflectively, can be even greater the next time. For example, have you started to notice that on your commute to school you listen to the radio just to get bombarded with bad news all the time? One of the top roles a teacher must fill is that of a resource specialists. 4 min read The latest OECD report on teaching and learning has underlined the importance of continuing education and professional learning for school teachers and principals. Fortunately, teachers who adopt a lifelong learning mindset are not intimidated by technology in their classrooms or in their students’ hands. ‘But how do you know when you need to modify what you are doing?’ asked one of the researchers. Similarly, Fischer outlines some of the key reasons to adopt a lifelong learning mindset, and two of them are the most critical for educators. This could mean you continue to be a student in a graduate class, or you could simply be a student of your own school community. The education system is all over the place, and for those who love their teaching job, it becomes increasingly difficult to get better at it. Anyone seeking to be a teacher should take advantage of any chance they get to grow as a person and as a teacher. Learning, they believed, kept Alzheimer's at bay and helped their minds stay intact even while their bodies aged. Do you already have certain habits you wish to kick to the curb? To deepen knowledge and to re-examine one’s perspectives about education – this … ‘Yes I agree there is a need to be intentional and purposeful, Brigitte responded, ‘however I think there has to be an equal concentration on flexibility and responsiveness. Moreover, digital literacy is a critical component of education today, and teachers must know how to teach and assess it in their classrooms. She also contends she “learned more from other teachers, my students, and their parents than I learned from any class in my teacher-credential program…. Even if the person is only seeking a source of information, the teacher is the one who must know how to find what the student is looking for. First, he explains that in the information age, people lack creativity (a debatable claim, but for the purposes of argument, let’s run with it for now). Why Lifelong Learning is Important. Fischer also describes the pace of change in the 21st century as being “so fast that technologies and skills to use them become obsolete within 5-10 years.” Ask any educator if he or she was using Edmodo, iPads, apps, Chromebooks, or other such technology in his or her classroom ten years ago, and you would likely get a negative response. The brain rejuvenates when you learn something new, as it’s able to create new neural paths; this helps thwart off serious health issues like Alzheimer’s; You inspire students by “practicing what you preach”; By observing your teachers and their methods, you can improve your own; It makes you a more well-rounded person as you get to expand your interests; Write down a to-do list with every morning coffee; Do some light reading during tests – it’s when the classroom is quiet and you’re still mentally present to supervise; If you’re learning a language (or anything a little easier to grasp), use family time to have them help you revise in a fun way; Use your experience in the classroom (if you’re learning something related to teaching, like psychology, education, mathematics, music, language…) and even try sharing your learning troubles with students. Learning teachers also view mistakes and challenges as part of the learning process rather than as failures. But it’s far from something insurmountable. They are the ones who interact with students and have to deal with the parents. That would be quite arrogant, teachers with nothing left to learn’. They are willing to learn about technology from theirs students and fellow teachers and adapt their teaching practices to meet the demands of their 21st century students. Developing as a lifelong learner provides novice teachers with a two-fold call to duty. Please share your thoughts. Remind yourself every day of what you’re aiming for. That’s why I think teachers need to become connoisseurs, knowledgeable professionals making choices, having enough knowledge and expertise to make good decisions’. One of the biggest roles a teacher may have is that of a mentor. Each failure, when looked at formatively, can help you solve new problems. Lifelong Learning refers to the voluntary decision to enroll in educational courses or to study a topic on one's volition. This way, you’re being proactive. Lifelong learning and information management skills In acquiring skills and knowledge, novice teachers should be able to do self-regulated learning independently. Whether it’s “read ten pages a day” our “look over tomorrow’s coursework before bed”, break those goals up, as it makes them more manageable that way. And it’s not one taken up lightly, as it requires you to shift your day-to-day life in many ways. The discussion takes place in a workshop with several researchers and about a dozen other teachers. Early in my career there was no discussion about teaching, it was a private practice. Novice teachers as lifelong learners will likely experience increased confidence and security. Sharing oneself, thinking aloud, and being honest about what's working and what isn't is not about making the environment "softer." Teachers have to think on their feet when students ask questions, and the only way that they can approach the daily challenges of their career is to be a lifelong learner. In the age of accountability and high stakes, it is unlikely. Not only do you work in the classroom, but most of the time, you also have to work when you get home. They should have the skills to search for relevant information from various sources and able to manage them efficiently. ‘It’s not about knowing everything’, said Brigitte. ‘I think my teaching is very deliberate, I make conscious choices and decisions, if I choose to do something or do something in a particular way it’s because that’s what I need for my intention, for my purpose. Anyone who has been involved in a profession long enough knows that there is always something new to learn. Even if we tell ourselves it’s going to be just fifteen minutes, it turns into a full hour of time wasted. Not to mention you will have a clear, dedicated task each day – much different from signing up for an online course and thinking: “I’ll get to it tomorrow”. "If we live in a culture of bullying, we…. So let’s address it next. Uwe and Brigitte are grade 5–6 teachers, here discussing with Li, a teacher from a nearby high school, what it means to be a professional teacher. What you need is to sit down and plan out this process. Here are five roles that a teacher often has to fill in order to be the best educator they can be. One last important role a teacher must fill is that of a learner. The bottom line: Being prepared to teach in the 21st century automatically equates to being a lifelong learner in the 21st century. Another example would be our night routine. Teaching is one of the busiest careers out there. Students are the ones who need support when learning a new skill or piece of information. I think it makes a big difference because I am always thinking about what I do and what I think the consequences will be,’ said Li. He also contends that for people to thrive in the 21st century, they must have the ability to proficiently use new technologies and media; learning to use these new technologies and media is a key component of lifelong learning.