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

Lifelong learning has been the norm rather than the exception for professionals and even blue-collar workers. So why all of the attention today?

The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives in partnership with AARP’s Educator Community has published a paper titled Staying Sharp: Learning Throughout Life at http://www.dana.org/uploadedFiles/The_Dana_Alliances/European_DanAllianc_for_the_Brain learningthruoutlife_en.pdf. The booklet reveals what neuroscience has learned about lifelong learning. Does the way we learn change through our lifetime or does it remain the same? If we continue to learn throughout our lives, does this learning have an impact on how we age? Can we do anything to prepare our brains for learning? Recent studies offer good news for anyone wishing to maintain a healthy brain as they age.

Today adults as well as young people populate the university system. People take part in organized learning activities throughout their adult lives, and seniors are no exception. An article titled Seniors-Old Brains Learning New Things at http://www.simplyseniors.com/health/seniors-old-brains-learning-new-things.php offers Brain Resources for people over 50 who are interested in locating local learning opportunities. Elderhostel is an example of an organization that provides “Adventures in Lifelong Learning” programs for seniors. Seniors who want to learn new skills may opt to participate in a learning vacation. Through regular, complex experiences, the brain continues to grow, process and store memories.

“The current and future health of America’s 21st Century Economy depends

directly on how broadly and deeply Americans reach a new level of

literacy—‘21st Century Literacy’—that includes strong academic skills,

thinking, reasoning, teamwork skills, and proficiency in using technology.”

-21st Century Workforce Commission National Alliance of Business

http://www.workforce21.org/downloads/report1.pdf

Everyone involved in education must agree that the academic skills of yesterday are not sufficient for today. To prepare students, they must learn skills and content found in the 21^st century skills.