Propensity to lifelong learning: what makes an Australian lifelong learner?

Project report


White, Robert D.. 2006. Propensity to lifelong learning: what makes an Australian lifelong learner? Unpublished.
Title

Propensity to lifelong learning: what makes an Australian lifelong learner?

Report TypeProject report
Authors
AuthorWhite, Robert D.
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Number of Pages62
Year2006
PublisherUnpublished
Abstract

[Introduction]: Lifelong learning has been extensively researched and has attained global prominence since the 1970s. There now exists a large body of literature on the subject and supranational institutions, such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the World Bank have and continue to influence the policies of national and intra-national governments. Lifelong learning is promoted to populations, workforces, and individuals as benefiting national and global economies and personal well-being.
Lifelong learning terminology and policy are ubiquitous. Governments and the business sector now expect individuals in general, and workers in particular, to be lifelong learners. The rationale proffered is that lifelong learning enables people to cope with an ever-changing society, economy and world of work, that is, to be good and effective citizens and workers. For that expectation and policy to be achievable, reasonable, and equitable it must be known whether it is in fact possible for everyone to be a lifelong learner. Therefore it must also be known what makes or motivates a lifelong learner (determinants). This research goes beyond lifelong learner attributes, to focus on the propensity to lifelong learning of contemporary Australians, that is, what makes an Australian lifelong learner.
A review of literature found the Adult Learning @ Home research project in Britain, viewable at http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/ict/, is arguably the seminal work on the determinants of lifelong learning. The findings about learning trajectories add new and deeper insight into the subject and its implications for education and policy. This work was conducted by researchers Stephen Gorard, Neil Selwyn, John Furlong and Louise Madden between 2002 and 2004. It investigated lifelong learning determinants in conjunction with the use and influence of information and communication technology in and on both formal and informal learning. Some answers were found to the question ‘What makes a lifelong learner’ in the British context. Whilst Watson (2003) has conducted significant Australian research in this area, there is no evident Australian research comparable to the British work.
- 9 -
Mindful of Osborne’s (2002) caution about making international comparisons, this pilot study investigates whether there is a prima facie case for the proposition that the British findings are, or may be, either generalisable or transferable to the Australian context. This study describes the background to lifelong learning and the literature review offers a working definition and description of attributes. It also provides an overview of policy and equity, the world of work, and propensity to lifelong learning. A positivist approach was taken to the choice of methods, and the data from a purposive sample of interviewees was quantitatively analysed. Finally, analysis informed by literature suggested that there is a prima facie case, and further research into determinants and implications for policy and equity is recommended.

Keywordslifelong learning; propensity; determinants; attributes; interview policy
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390203. Sociology of education
449999. Other human society not elsewhere classified
390409. Learning sciences
Public Notes

Unpublished.

Byline AffiliationsFaculty of Education
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9y93z/propensity-to-lifelong-learning-what-makes-an-australian-lifelong-learner

Download files

  • 2272
    total views
  • 718
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Usefulness and reliability of online assessments: a Business Faculty's experience
Pedersen, Cec, White, Robert and Smith, Don. 2012. "Usefulness and reliability of online assessments: a Business Faculty's experience." International Journal of Organisational Behaviour. 17 (3), pp. 33-45.
Using online assessments: a journey towards good practice
Pedersen, Cec, White, Robert and Smith, Don. 2011. "Using online assessments: a journey towards good practice." Building Business Communities: Justice, Performance and Change Creating a Sustainable Scholarly Community Colloquia (2011). Brisbane, Australia 09 Nov 2011 Toowoomba, Australia.
Usage of online assessment in the Faculty of Business: report and recommendations
Pedersen, Cec, White, Robert and Smith, Don. 2010. Usage of online assessment in the Faculty of Business: report and recommendations. Unpublished.
Examining client/accountant relationships: rural versus urban consumer selection criteria
Tidwell, Paula M., Weekes, David, Scott, Mark, White, Robert and Murphy, Alex. 2000. "Examining client/accountant relationships: rural versus urban consumer selection criteria ." Journal of Professional Services Marketing. 20 (2), pp. 107-119. https://doi.org/10.1300/J090v20n02_08
Editors' introduction to special theme issue [of International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning]: Meanings emerging in practice (Part 2)
Danaher, Patrick Alan, Mills, Carmen, White, Robert D., O'Neill, Shirley and Son, Jeong-Bae. 2007. "Editors' introduction to special theme issue [of International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning]: Meanings emerging in practice (Part 2)." International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning. 3 (2), pp. 1-3.
The troubling terrain of lifelong learning: a highway cruise or a cross-country trek?
White, Robert D.. 2008. "The troubling terrain of lifelong learning: a highway cruise or a cross-country trek?" Henderson, Robyn and Danaher, Patrick Alan (ed.) Troubling terrains: tactics for traversing and transforming contemporary educational research. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 137-147
Leadership for mobilising change in educating teachers for further education and training
Tyler, Mark A., White, Robert D., Arden, Catherine H. and Danaher, Patrick A.. 2008. "Leadership for mobilising change in educating teachers for further education and training." McConachie, Jeanne, Singh, Michael J., Danaher, Patrick Alan, Nouwens, Fons and Danaher, Geoff (ed.) Changing university learning and teaching: engaging and mobilising leadership, quality and technology. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 5-24