A litany of lifelong learning.
Once upon a time the way we learned was quite straightforward - we went to primary school, secondary school, and a significant number went on to third level education, graduating in our chosen field. From there, we either continued onto postgraduate education, entered a research field, or sought employment in an area related to our degree field. Only a few decades ago, it was usually the norm to stay in one job for many years or, indeed, until retirement for those lucky enough to find a job that led to a sustainable career.
This is no longer case for those who have been educated beyond secondary school level. In fact, it can often happen that the field we initially start off in as graduates is not the one that we end up in at retirement. Speaking from personal experience, the path that I have taken has been a circuitous one with many dead ends and cross-roads to navigate. However, I firmly believe that all of those 'right now' jobs were the means to an end that eventually led me to where I am today, and into my role as an Information Developer, a job that I hope to continue in for many years to come.
In contrast, for many of my current colleagues in their mid-20s, this was their first job after completing a Masters degree in a completely different field. Having gained 2-3 years valuable experience in technical writing, they are now moving onto new careers in their original field of study - one is going to work for an renewable energy company; another is going into the field of software development, and yet another is moving to the internal human resources department.
It is also no longer the case that academia is only accessible to those who excelled in their teens and early 20s. There is now a plethora of courses available to mature students, adult learners, and anyone who has always had the desire to further educate themselves but may not have had the financial means or opportunity when they were younger. While traditionally, after-work night classes were the preferred option, in the past decade, more and more online courses have become available that allow people to pursue qualifications both out of personal interest and to help further their careers.
This brings me to the module this semester that covers E-Learning Theories and Practices. My main experience to date has been this current online distance learning Masters. Many years ago while living in London, I completed a correspondence certificate course in Astronomy through the Open University whereby module materials were received by post and assignments returned the same way. However, that was done purely from the perspective of a hobbyist and it was one that could be completed at my own pace so I never felt any pressure or time constraints for the various assignments. In the early 90s, online resources were minimal to say the least but additional qualifications were still achievable. The updated course is now available online for the digital generation but has significantly expanded both in scope - and price! - in the 30 years since.
While listening to one of the podcast lectures for the above module, out of curiosity, I did a search for free online courses available from Harvard and MIT. I was quite astonished that so many were freely available and it certainly piqued my curiosity that I would be able to register for short courses from such prestigious establishments. Having been firmly bitten by the learning bug during this Masters course, I hope to complete a few MOOCs and SOOCs in the years to come. I am particularly attracted by the concept of digital badges that are becoming a recognized status of achievement. When I worked for Google, I completed two such online courses and I have only just realized that the certificates proudly displayed on my LinkedIn profile could be described as digital badges.
What has been interesting to learn during the aforementioned module is the vast array of online courses available, with many permutations and combinations that may or may not involve a physical classroom component also. It is gratifying to know that no matter what a person's circumstances are in their personal and/or professional life, there is invariably a course setup available to suit their academic needs
During the orientation day for this Masters course, I met a man who had left school when he was 16, worked for several years, returned to education in his late 20s, completed his Leaving Cert, achieved a position at University as a mature student, and graduated with an Engineering degree in his 30s. And here he was, in his 40s - about to start a Masters in Engineering. I found his story to be incredibly inspiring and I hope that many other people will have the same opportunity that he had - and that I have - to fulfill a lifelong dream of further education and working in a rewarding field.
This is no longer case for those who have been educated beyond secondary school level. In fact, it can often happen that the field we initially start off in as graduates is not the one that we end up in at retirement. Speaking from personal experience, the path that I have taken has been a circuitous one with many dead ends and cross-roads to navigate. However, I firmly believe that all of those 'right now' jobs were the means to an end that eventually led me to where I am today, and into my role as an Information Developer, a job that I hope to continue in for many years to come.
In contrast, for many of my current colleagues in their mid-20s, this was their first job after completing a Masters degree in a completely different field. Having gained 2-3 years valuable experience in technical writing, they are now moving onto new careers in their original field of study - one is going to work for an renewable energy company; another is going into the field of software development, and yet another is moving to the internal human resources department.
It is also no longer the case that academia is only accessible to those who excelled in their teens and early 20s. There is now a plethora of courses available to mature students, adult learners, and anyone who has always had the desire to further educate themselves but may not have had the financial means or opportunity when they were younger. While traditionally, after-work night classes were the preferred option, in the past decade, more and more online courses have become available that allow people to pursue qualifications both out of personal interest and to help further their careers.
While listening to one of the podcast lectures for the above module, out of curiosity, I did a search for free online courses available from Harvard and MIT. I was quite astonished that so many were freely available and it certainly piqued my curiosity that I would be able to register for short courses from such prestigious establishments. Having been firmly bitten by the learning bug during this Masters course, I hope to complete a few MOOCs and SOOCs in the years to come. I am particularly attracted by the concept of digital badges that are becoming a recognized status of achievement. When I worked for Google, I completed two such online courses and I have only just realized that the certificates proudly displayed on my LinkedIn profile could be described as digital badges.
What has been interesting to learn during the aforementioned module is the vast array of online courses available, with many permutations and combinations that may or may not involve a physical classroom component also. It is gratifying to know that no matter what a person's circumstances are in their personal and/or professional life, there is invariably a course setup available to suit their academic needs
During the orientation day for this Masters course, I met a man who had left school when he was 16, worked for several years, returned to education in his late 20s, completed his Leaving Cert, achieved a position at University as a mature student, and graduated with an Engineering degree in his 30s. And here he was, in his 40s - about to start a Masters in Engineering. I found his story to be incredibly inspiring and I hope that many other people will have the same opportunity that he had - and that I have - to fulfill a lifelong dream of further education and working in a rewarding field.
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"Never stop learning because Life never stops teaching." ~ Unknown
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