![Lifelong learning - a journey throughout life](https://www.fagerhult.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=2000,quality=80,fit=scale-down,onerror=redirect/globalassets/global/_news/2020/lifelong-learning/library-header.jpg)
Lifelong learning - a journey throughout life
Lifelong learning concerns every individual’s opportunity – and responsibility – to continue developing and learning new things throughout life. However, how do we encourage lifelong learning once school is over?
They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but current research disagrees. Research in lifelong learning has, for almost half a century, studied and examined learning throughout life. One researcher who’s studied the subject in greater detail is Professor Cecilia Bjursell of Jönköping University.
– Lifelong learning is a holistic approach to education and learning which recognises learning in several different environments, Bjursell explains. The idea of lifelong learning is based on two principles: on the one hand that an individual continues learning throughout life, and on the other that learning doesn’t only take place within the bounds of formal education. Learning is just as likely to take place at work and in everyday life. School comprises extremely important preparation for lifelong learning. This is where we’re given the tools which enable us to continue our personal development in later life.
Lifelong learning is also a hot topic internationally. Lifelong learning is included in the EU strategy for education and training until 2020, which “focuses on lifelong learning and mobility, the quality and efficiency of education, equality, and innovation”. The UN also underlines the importance of not neglecting our personal development. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a decision on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in connection with its work on Agenda 2030. Goal 4 has a clear focus on education, wherein society shall “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
NEW TECHNOLOGY – NEW DEMANDS
Historically, we have acquired our education at an early age, and we have then relied on that education throughout our working lives, perhaps with the odd course now and then. Today, we need to change this static view of learning. To develop, and remain a fully fledged member of contemporary society, we need to integrate continuous learning with everyday life.
The technological developments seen in society drive our needs, and we need to update our skills to keep up. Consider, for example, learning how to use Zoom or a digital ID. We need to embrace new technologies and learn new things at all ages.
– What’s new is that today lifelong learning is so clearly associated with higher education, says Bjursell. Interest in vocational courses is also increasing, a result of the increasing need for education across the board. Furthermore, research has shown that the higher your level of education, the easier it is to benefit from new courses.
"Lifelong learning is the concept of developing and learning, throughout your life. Not only in school." Cecilia Bjursell, professor pedagogy, Jönköping University
EXAMPLES OF EVERYDAY LEARNING
The school system already has processes and goals for pupils to follow and fulfil. Those of us who work, however, do not always have the same frames of reference to orient ourselves. Digitalisation and automation are changing all aspects of society in very noticeable ways. Almost all professions, regardless of industry, are undergoing rapid change – as are the expectations on skill sets. Parallel to this, we’re all living longer, and are expected to work longer. Unfortunately, the time we spend on skills development tends to decrease with age.
How, then, are we to encourage lifelong learning? Is there anything we can do as individuals to enhance our personal development?
You can start by reflecting on how you learn and embrace new knowledge. Is it, for example, by watching videos/tutorials, listening to lectures/podcasts or reading books? Once you’ve identified how you learn best, there are different methods for developing your learning, both at work and in life. You could start by learning about a subject you find interesting, and then build on that. Learning can take place anywhere, but first it must be enabled.
– Mentoring and custom courses at the workplace are effective ways of encouraging learning at work, Bjursell explains. However, the person who is most knowledgeable about, say, LEDs, might not be best suited to be a mentor, although this is a skill which can be learned. We shouldn’t be blinkered and focus on just one skill – we need to see the entire breadth of skills which are needed. There’s a need to create an open learning environment at the company which can be developed. One thing you always need to keep in mind when planning a course is to adapt it to those who are taking it. Many of the participants might not have their own office or even their own email, they might have to take the course on their smartphone.
EXAMPLES OF LIFELONG LEARNING
As with all development and change work, it’s a good idea to have both a plan and an objective. Write down what you want to learn, how you want to learn it and the aim of your new knowledge. Then, start on a small scale, expanding things as you go along. Examples of learning at work:
- GET A MENTOR
Someone at your/another workplace who can reflect on the circumstances and events of your working life and profession. - SHADOW A COLLEAGUE AT YOUR WORKPLACE
An easy way to learn more about other professions/other departments at your work, offering greater insight into the entire business. - FEEDBACK FROM A COACH (COLLEAGUE/MANAGER)
Ask one of your colleagues/managers for regular and honest feedback on your performance. - JOB SWAP WITH ANOTHER WORKPLACE
Speak to colleagues at other workplaces about the possibility of a job swap week.
LEARNING IN THE RIGHT LIGHT
Lighting and ergonomics are central to making a learning environment suited to everyone – from the very youngest at preschool, through the nearly 240,000 teachers at Swedish preschools, primary schools and secondary schools, to older students studying evening courses at university. All of them have their schools as a workplace, and they need to be able to adjust the lighting to best suit different learning situations. This includes, for example, being able to dim, control and change the colour temperature of the lighting, all of which aim to enhance and facilitate learning.
Learn more here:
TEXT MARIA VÅRENIUS
PHOTO PATRIK SVEDBERG, SIMON PAULIN
Related News
![Lighting First Aid for the TikTok-generation](https://www.fagerhult.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=540,quality=80,fit=crop,onerror=redirect/globalassets/global/_news/2021/lighting-first-aid-for-the-tiktok-generation/header-kid-screen.jpg)
Lighting First Aid for the TikTok-generation
When lighting expert Shelley James realized how lockdown affects the wellbeing of kids and teenagers, she was shocked. Now she is joining forces with Fagerhult to improve the light health of the TikTok-generation. Nieces halo and amity are two of the most important people in Dr Shelley James’ life. ”They’re such an inspiration to me”, she laughs.With a PhD from the Royal College of Art and as an international expert on light and well-being (you might have seen her appearing on the award-winning BBC series ”Innovations that Changed the World” and on the webinar series the Neuroscience of Light) Shelley James has in-depth knowledge of how light affects our well-being through life. With her cheerful nieces around she has developed a deep commitment to improve the light health of teenagers. ”The adolescent brain is going through the most amazing process and it cannot be compared to the brain of a grown up. The connections between different parts of the brain are going through profound change, which is key to their health and happiness into adulthood and beyond. This, along with the rapid changes in their physical bodies, means that they need an hour more sleep than a ten year old”, Shelley James explains. ”In fact, the teenager’s circadian rhythm is running two hours late compared to an adult. That means that a 7am wake-up call for an adult feels like 5am for an adolescent. Might be good to know if you have teenagers around…” Img 1 ALARMING SITUATION This said, the access to daylight and high-quality artificial light at the right time of day – with the right colour and in the right amount – is crucial for the health of teenagers always. In times of lockdown Shelley James finds the situation alarming. Homeschooling has resulted in wrecked routines and young people spending their days in their rooms with drawn blinds in front of a computer screen. Many of them do not go outside for long periods, meaning they are not getting any daylight at all. ”When lockdown came, I saw how young people around me were living in dark rooms and working in weak flickering light on the kitchen table. I was shocked by how little they knew about how their bodies and minds were affected by this.” The common denominator between the rise in myopia, obesity, depression and learning difficulties among young people is the lack of good lighting, concludes Shelley James. ”We are already seeing problems with kids not getting enough sleep. When your body clock is not working properly it leads to struggles with obesity, mental health and concentration problems.” SIMPLE SOLUTIONS The good news is, that this can all be easily prevented, if only the teenagers themselves (and okay, their parents and teachers as well) had some basic lighting knowledge. It’s really simple, she says. ”Did you, for example, know that you don’t have to wear glasses just because your parents did? If you spend time outdoors, getting enough daylight when growing up, you can reduce the risk of ending up wearing glasses by up to 40 percent.” Another fun fact that teenagers would benefit from knowing is that you can actually boost your brain with 20 percent higher learning capacity – just by switching of lights and screens and go to bed at the proper hour. ”In 2021, lighting is quite different than in it used to be. I think it’s a wonderful thing that development in the electronics has reduced a lot of the flicker – and tunable light is opening the door to different light colours to improve our well-being”, says Shelley James. To take advantage of all opportunities offered, we have to raise the awareness among teenagers, their parents and scholars. And, maybe most important of all: we have to suggest practical solutions that are easy to understand and act upon. Img 2 THE BIRTH OF LUNA GOLIGHTLY Said and done. After teaming up with some of the leading researchers and manufacturers within the lighting field, Shelley James launched the Luna Project of which Fagerhult is a very proud sponsor. Her idea is to address teenagers directly, helping them to gain insights and take actions to improve their health and wellbeing. And of course she turned to beloved nieces Halo and Amity for advice. ”Teenagers are amazing, thoughtful, lively people with loads of intelligence. They easily absorb this kind of knowledge, but we have to understand that this is the TikTok-generation, and they do not respond to traditional tutorials. They do want information but they don’t want to feel like they are being ‘taught’”, she muses. Based on this insight ”Luna Golightly and the Fireflies” was born. Five short videos the fictional teenage girl Luna Golightly explains how young people can act ”light smart” in order to sleep better, prevent headache, improve their study results and even avoid wearing glasses. The videos are published on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Of course, you can also find them at the Fagerhult website. Q Shelly INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE FOR ALL AGES The Luna Golightly videos are supplemented with interviews and tutorials with international scientists and lighting specialists explaining the facts behind the films, among others Henrik Clausen, director of Fagerhult Lighting Academy. ”This material works as an introduction to the subject for parents and teachers. The scientist interviews can also be used to introduce different topics and activities if you want to deepen the discussion when teaching or talking with your kids, explains Shelley James, admitting that Luna is a passion project of hers. ”As adults we are the guardians of these young minds – and they are growing up really fast! For all of us that are passionate about light and lighting I think this is a no-brainer. No matter if you’re a lighting specialist, a specifier or a buyer – first and foremost, we are all mothers and fathers, grandparents or uncles – and of course, aunts. It is time for us to remember who we are doing this for. Img 3 SOME FACTS ABOUT DR SHELLEY JAMES DR Shelley James is the founder of Age of Light Innovation.She holds a PhD from the Royal College of Art and is an international expert on light and well-being. Current clients include Glaxo Smithkline, The Royal Society of British Sculptors and Bristol University. She is a passionate advocate for public engagement with science. She is Associate Artist at King’s College London, has an ongoing Residency at the Bristol Eye Hospital and a Visiting Lectureship at the Royal College of Art.![Agitated, anxious and alone - living with dementia](https://www.fagerhult.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=540,quality=80,fit=crop,onerror=redirect/globalassets/global/_news/2021/agitated-anxious-and-alone/caretaker_elderly_book.jpg)
Agitated, anxious and alone - living with dementia
Imagine not being able to recognise your own children. Not knowing where you live, where you are going or even how old you are. For many people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) this is the reality. But with small means the everyday life’s struggle can be a bit more balanced – and one way of doing it is with light. WHAT IS DEMENTIA AND ADRD? According to the WHO's definition, dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities. Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing. It is caused by damage to brain cells - by i.e. Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or a head injury. Worldwide, around 50 million people have dementia, and there are nearly 10 million new cases every year, or one new case every 3 seconds. The anticipated growth of the diagnosis is set to triple by 2050. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It has a physical, psychological, social, and economic impact, not only for the caretaker, but also on their carer’s, families and society at large. Dementia affects each person in a different way, depending upon the impact of the disease and the person’s personality before becoming ill. FEAR, CONFUSION AND RESTLESS NIGHTS Persons with ADRD are often difficult for family caregivers to manage. Common symptoms of dementia in general is a constant wandering, during the day as well as the nights, anger, anxiety and personality changes. Since these patients don’t receive enough sleep, they are often more agitated during the day and experience more noticeable mood swings. Dr. Barbara Lipska, a neuroscientist that herself suffered from a brain tumour, experienced some of the most common symptoms that ADRD-patients suffers from, and could after being cured from her tumour, give an insight in the everyday life of dementia patients. - I had no time for anything — not even for the things that I really enjoyed, like talking to my children and my sister on the telephone, Dr Lipska says in an interview with NYT. I would cut them off midsentence, running somewhere to do something of great importance, though what exactly, I couldn’t say. I became rude, and snapped at anyone who threatened to distract me. Her personality change and irritability also came from the fact that she had a hard time anticipating the basic needs of her body. There was no longer a build up towards hunger, fatigue, or even the need to urinate that she had once experienced. Img 1 LET THERE BE LIGHT Even though we consider ourselves modern people, our brains are really not that up to date. We are still biological creatures, affected by the shifts in nature. In health and care, light is especially important. Optimal use of daylight and electrical light can be vital since light has a direct impact on the health of the patients. Independent studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the exposure to light and our feeling of well-being. Apart from its central role in vision itself, light is important for many physiological and psychological processes for us humans. It can improve concentration, affect our mood and our biological functions. Lack of daylight for long periods of time causes sleep problems, because the balance between the sleep hormone melatonin and stress hormone cortisol is disrupted. These hormones control the circadian rhythm, and lighting concepts that are in harmony with our internal clock support our well-being. RISE AND SHINE Light therapy has shown promise as a nonpharmacological treatment to help balance abnormal sleep-wake patterns, and other associated symptoms, in patients suffering from ADRD. According to the UK Alzheimer’s society, studies has shown that bright light therapy can stabilize the mood for the patient. By regularly sitting under a bright light lamp of 10,000 lux, or brighter, it helps reset the brain. This is best done in the morning, shortly after waking, for 15 to 30 minutes. Many who utilize bright light therapy adapt it in the morning routine buy sitting under the bright light it when they watch television or enjoy breakfast. Since the human circadian rhythm is maximally sensitive to short-wavelenght (blue) light, lower, more targeted lighting interventions for therapeutic purposes can be used. One study was designed to test the effectiveness of a tailored light treatment on measures of sleep quality, agitation and depression in those with ADRD living in nursing homes. But there are studies carried out to see if this could be adapted to people with the same conditions, living at home. The reason this can all work, and ease the care situation for the different patients, is purely biological. The human brain needs the stimulation of daylight to produce the different hormones needed during the day. The circularity of the day is an innate part of our life, and we are programmed since many thousands of years to adapt our body after the shifting of the daylight. By regulating the natural circadian rhythm you can balance your mood, improve the overall well-being and also get a better sleep.![Perceptual evaluation of light - going to the movies](https://www.fagerhult.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=540,quality=80,fit=crop,onerror=redirect/globalassets/global/_news/2019/perceptual-evaluation-of-light/cinema-dark-display-8158.jpg)