Lifelong Learning in the Knowledge Society

Tom van Weert Chair ICT in Higher Education

Photograph: Koen van den Driesche

http://www.vuurtorens.nl

Traditional education

Education used to be:– Early in life

– For life

Application of “knowledge” used to be:– Later in life

– For life

Lifelong Learning

Education is becoming:– Lifelong: Learning = Working = Living

– Just in Time, Just Fit, flexible in time and place

Application of “knowledge” is becoming:– Immediate: Working = Learning = Living

– For now (not for life)

Role of ICT

• Enabling:– Empowerment– Communication

• Integrated

ICT is empowerment

ICT is integrated communication

Changes in living environment

• Global environment

• Personal environment

• Economical environment

• Social environment

• Cultural environment

• Political environment

Global environment

World Bank (2002):– Growing role of knowledge– ICT revolution– Global labour market– Political and social change– Spread of democracy– Violence, corruption, and

crime– HIV/AIDS

Personal environment

Keeping up with the world around us– New technology use on a day-

to-day basis– Information that “bombards” us– Different media formats;– Ways we communicate by– So much we have to know and

handle

Economical environment

EconomyChange Flexibility &

Technology

Operational

Knowledge

Economical Environment

EconomyChange

Knowledge is like fish:

Fresh today,

Of no use tomorrow

Economical Developments

Knowledge worker:

Learning at the work place

Knowledge creation at the workplace

Social environment

• Growing importance ‘Human capital’

• ICT empowers in all dimensions of work

• ‘wholeness’ of working life (meaning of life)

• ‘enterprising’ society of dynamic professionals

Social environment‘Enterprising

society’

Children have busy lives; who do they copy, you think?

E-readiness ranking 2003The Economist

IBM1. Sweden

2. Denmark

3. Netherlands

USA

United Kingdom

6. Finland

7. Norway

8. Switzerland

9. Australia

10.Canada/Hongkonghttp://www.ebusinessforum.com/

E-readiness Ranking 2003

E-Readiness factors

Connectivity and technology infrastructure

Business environment Consumer and business

adoption Legal and policy

environment Social and cultural

infrastructure Supporting e-services

Social integration

Cultural environment

Zap

Culture

Cu See you

Id Idea

-Id No idea

W8 Wait

:-)) Great laugh

:-< A bit sad

(\0/) Angel in flight

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Cultural environment

The Ten Commandments

God: Im No. 1. No pix, plz.Uz my name nicely. Day7=holy.Take care of mum’n’dad.Don’t kill, scrU round, steal or lie.Keep yr hands (&eyz) off wot isnt yrs.

http://www.ship-of-fools.com/Features/frameit.htm?0802/txt_comp3.html

Cultural environment

It is game time

Political environment

European Community:• The Lisbon declaration

(2000)• Transition to a knowledge

intensive society• New approach to education

and training needed

• http://europa.eu.int/comm/elearning

Risk for transition economiesWorld Bank (2002):• Threat of marginalization• Policymakers need to make crucial

changes• New type of learning that emphasizes:

– creating– Applying– analyzing– synthesizing knowledge – engaging in collaborative learning throughout

the lifespan

Traditional education (World Bank)

• Teacher: Source of

knowledge

• Learners receive knowledge

• Testing for mastery

• All activities the same

• Teachers educated for life

Lifelong Learning (World Bank)

• Educator: Guide to knowledge

sources

• Learners learn by doing

• Assessment guiding learning

• Individualized learning

• Educators are lifelong learners

Lifelong Learning is just around the corner, Hobie!

Photograph: Koen van den Driesche

http://www.vuurtorens.nl

Lifelong Learning

Thank you for your attention

Is all about interaction