PARTNERSHIP, COMMUNITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING
Thirst for knowledge
A recent survey of College teaching staff revealed that learning is not limited to the pupils. Staff Tutor PatrickWhibley reflects on why so many teachers are determined to study something in their ‘spare’ time, and wonders what motivates the lifelong learner
T he reasons for which teachers continue to develop their own learning are as varied as the personalities of the teachers themselves. Educational commentators have long discussed the different motivations for learning, often identified as intrinsic and extrinsic. The devoted and lifelong learner embraces the process of learning for its own sake. Conversely, when imposing learning on others, we teachers look for ways of sweetening the pill, using devices to maximise engagement, such as tokens of reward, and signs that the promise of delayed gratification will materialise. There are many questions we should bear in mind: do we have enough faith in children’s love of learning? Are we preoccupied with cultivating what is already there in abundance? Should we be more concerned with the damage that can be done? Many adults see their own continued learning as essential to maintaining a sharp mind - as the candles on the cake accumulate, so brain structure and function have a tendency to deteriorate. Others value the human interaction that enriches the book club, the tennis lesson, the language class. Many engage in personal pursuits which have professional relevance and value. Children, in contrast, are rarely concerned with the fragility of cognitive function, and can usually find ways to fulfil their social needs independently of the learning process. Our best solution yet? Certificates of learning. Their
Themind is forever changing, shaped both by erosion and accumulation
currency is irresistible: first, they make the claim that mastery has been fully achieved; second, their legacy suggests that the skills and knowledge will be eternally retained; third, they promise that the recipient is suitable for the next stage of learning or employment. One notable exception: the lifeguard’s certificate, which soon expires and must be constantly refreshed. Telling, isn’t it? For lifelong learners, acquiring new skills, maintaining old ones, and pursuing knowledge need not have a defined prize. The mind is forever changing, shaped both by erosion and accumulation: to accept the former and invest in the latter is perhaps what makes the devoted learner tick.
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