1. Rosa Maria Torres.pdf - UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning

L I F E L O N G L E A R N I N G:WHY? WHAT FOR?Rosa-María Torres

THE 21st CENTURYNo only“Information Society”

THE 21st CENTURYMajor challenges

• Learning throughout life• Learning to live• Life is the curriculum• Learning to learn• Building learning families• Building learning communities• Building learning societiesmeans

is NOT• Not a new concept• Not a paradigm created by, and validonly, for the North• Not the same as Lifelong Education• Not related only to adults• Not only non-formal and informal• Not just an economic strategy forHuman Resource Development• Not necessarily individual learning• Not in conflict with the right toeducation (right to education = right tolearn)

implies• In- and out-of-home learning• In- and out-of-school learning• Indoors and outdoors learning• Inter-generational learning• Collaborative learning• Blended learning• Networked learning• Learning while playing, doing,working, participating, etc.

why• World challenges more complex.• Knowledge expands and changes.• We live in an Information Society.• Emergence of digital culture (ICTaccelerated expansion, demandingmajor changes and new skills).

why• School systems are stretching butgetting poor learning results.• Schools are not the only places forlearning.• Increase of out-of-school andinformal learning opportunities(autonomous learning) enhanced bymodern technologies.• Literacy and basic education areclearly insufficient today.

RESEARCH:•All ages are goodto learn• Men’s and women’sbrain are configureddifferently•An active brainthroughout life keepsus (mentally) healthy

implies• Coordination• Complementarity• Diversification• Flexibility• Learning groups and communitiesrather than individual learners• Sharing• Collective access to, and use of,resources• Synergy at all levels

collaborative

implies1. Putting LEARNING (andLEARNERS) at the center2. Accepting LEARNING as a mustfor everyone3. Seing beyond childhood4. Seing beyond the school system5. Seing beyond Ministries ofEducation6. Seing beyond governmentstructures

implies1.Making sense “within the box”2. Going “beyond the box”3.Moving (back) from GOALS toOBJECTIVES3. Social engagement4. Intersectoral policy framework5. Political willTRANSIT FROM OLD TO NEWPARADIGM

open up our mindschange mindsets