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Learning to learn constitutes a key competence of life-long learning (LLL) and is a prerequisite to acquisition and improvement of skills and knowledge. It is a main resource of personal development and active citizenship. It is seen as a capacity for all that can eventually foster the development of democracy. To briefly explain its meaning it is about giving ownership to the learner over the activity of learning.
‘Learning to learn’ is the ability to take up and continue learning, to organise one’s own learning individually or collectively with the optimal use of time, information and learning opportunities. This entails the ability to set one’s own aims and objectives, identify the ways, means and obstacles to achieve them according to an individual learning strategy and to monitor and evaluate own learning process effectively.
Lifelong Learning as a Key Competence
This competence means gaining, processing and assimilating new knowledge and skills as well as seeking and making use of guidance. Learning to learn engages learners to build on prior learning and life experiences in order to use and apply knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts: personal, professional and social. Awareness of the ways of enhancing one’s motivation and confidence are crucial to learning to learn.
To enable learner/trainers to function as motivators and facilitators of the learning to learn process of the participants of their educational work, with a view to the development of a positive attitude to learning throughout the life course among those participants (EC, 2006; Hoskins, Fredriksson, 2008).
Generally, education does not only serve the short-term labour market goals, but in order to take ownership over the educational goals (either for the purpose of furthering one’s educational path or for the purpose of upskilling or reskilling), an individual needs to have awareness of the competences, knowledge, skills and qualifications required. Learning to learn requires an individual to know and understand their preferred learning styles at all times to be able to search for the education and training opportunities and guidance and/or support available (EC, 2006; Hoskins, Fredriksson, 2008).
Learning to learn competence requires the acquisition of the basic skills such as literacy, numeracy and ICT skills necessary for further learning. Skills that would enable an individual to access and acquire new knowledge and skills. Those education and training activities imply working specifically on habits and attitudes specific to situations or certain persons, and on learning practices, such as to concentrate for extended periods and to reflect critically on the purposes and aims of learning. Learners should have the ability to dedicate time to learning individually and independently, but also to work in teams as part of the learning process. As a part of learning to learn competence they should be able to learn how to organise their own learning, evaluate their own progress, and to reach out for advice, information and support when appropriate (EC, 2006; Hoskins, Fredriksson, 2008).
A positive attitude includes the motivation and confidence to pursue and succeed at learning throughout one’s life. A problem-solving attitude supports both the learning process itself and an individual’s ability to handle obstacles and change. The desire to apply prior learning and life experiences and the curiosity to look for opportunities to learn and apply learning in a variety of life contexts are essential elements of a positive attitude (EC, 2006; Hoskins, Fredriksson, 2008).
Supporting Lifelong Learning Through MOOC
Given the above mentioned, the following elements are recommended to be addressed in the process of developing the MOOC for improving learning to learn competence (Otten, Ohana, 2009):
- Ability to develop a positive attitude to learning among participant;
- Ability to motivate themselves and young people to learn through the life course by demonstrating its necessity and benefits;
- Familiarity with current debates, theories and approaches for helping learners improve their learning practices;
- Familiarity with the political-institutional framework within which the learning to learn of young people can be supported.
Lifelong Learning & Entrepreneurship
The entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship competence constitute an important component of the employability concept. The changes in the labour market and in educational needs demanded a new, more practical approach to skills and competences. Despite the development of this competence, it still remains difficult for learners to become successful in the labour market, proceeding with their personal careers.
However, having gathered and analysed the materials available, including strategical European Union (EU) and European Higher Education Area (EHEA) documents, as well as literature, a detailed definition of this competence was adapted to be used for the purpose of this project. The definition that the authors chose was based on the definition presented in the recommendation of the European Parliament and the Council on key competences for lifelong learning (EC, 2006) complemented by findings from other sources, as well as own experience of the authors.
Sense of entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to generate new ideas and turn them into action. It includes innovation, risk-taking, and the ability to establish, launch and manage projects in order to achieve planned objectives. This supports individuals, not only in their everyday personal and professional lives and ability to use opportunities, and constitutes a basis for more specific skills and knowledge needed by those establishing or contributing to social development and economic activity. This should include awareness of ethical values and promote good governance (EC, 2006; QAA, 2012).
Essential knowledge embraces the ability to define opportunities available for personal and professional activities that would fit in a broader socio-economic context that societies live in, facing all the challenges of developing world with all their implications on educational systems and labour markets. All the learners should get acquainted with the ethical position of enterprises, and how they can they can enter in the role of social entrepreneurs to fulfil not only purely economic needs, but contribute to social sustainable development (EC, 2006; QAA, 2012).
Skills acquired should be linked to proactive project management, effective representation and negotiation, and the ability to work both individually and collaboratively. It is essential to develop the ability to judge and identify one’s strengths and weaknesses, and to assess and take risks (EC, 2006; QAA, 2012). Learners that have acquired entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship can be described as having a proactive, independent and innovative approach in personal, professional and social life. It entails motivation and determination in striving for fulfilment of the objectives, both in personal and professional dimension (EC, 2006; QAA, 2012).
Key Considerations
Given the above, the following elements are recommended to be addressed in the process of developing the MOOC for the purpose of improving learning to learn competence (Otten & Ohana, 2009):
- Understanding of quality standards as applied by both funding institutions and employers in the Europe;
- Ability to maintain a non-bureaucratic, flexible and ethical attitude towards the many challenges of work life and long term voluntary engagement in the field;
- Familiarity with the community of practice that forms the professionals and volunteers within European work and capacity / information required for networking within it;
- Willingness to participate in relevant associations and their debates about professionalisation and quality among peers and colleagues at the European level;
- Ability to communicate effectively with clients and funders and to manage projects emanating from a variety of organisational cultures;
- Familiarity with the political-institutional framework within which the debate on quality, professionalisation, qualification and validation within the field of European work takes place.