Course Sharing

…lifelong learning is the ongoing education of the self. Because it's on a continuum, this type of learning is self-motivated and often self-taught. It's turning the act of learning in a classroom into a daily mindset and habit. It's about having a fierce desire to gain knowledge and skills whenever, wherever, and however.

Lifelong learning is "the practice of continuing to learn throughout one's entire life, especially outside of or after the completion of formal schooling" (Dictionary.com, n.d.), which includes your time here at Sheridan. Whether you're pursuing personal interests and passions or chasing professional ambitions, lifelong learning can help you achieve new personal fulfillment and satisfaction.

One of the best parts about college is the actual process of learning, "from understanding how something works (the human body, the universe, a foreign language) to why people do what they do (history, sociology, psychology)"—it's these breakthrough moments that keep students "motivated to study and stay in the classroom" (Fairbanks, 2021).

At Sheridan, you're learning more about yourself too—in your classes and all your other activities, you're setting up the strategies and approaches you'll use to learn new things after you graduate, which will help keep you competitive in your career, improve your relationships, and create a better world.

You can ask yourself:

• How can I improve my current skills?
• What knowledge do I have right now that I want to build on?
• What are my strengths and my areas to improve, both professionally and personally?

One key thought to keep in mind—lifelong learning is "a way of life, not a one-off activity" (Fairbanks, 2021). Taking shortcuts with course-sharing and homework help sites as you're building your foundational skills means that you're losing out on developing a process of learning that will help you develop new skills.

After watching the video, reflect on the following questions:

• When was the last time you learned something unexpected? How did it change your mind on a topic?
• Maia talks about times where she learned about her passions (and discovered what she doesn’t like too)—what have you learned about your interests and disinterests since you started at Sheridan? Would you change anything about your experience?
• What if you asked “Why?” today? How might it change your life five years from now?

To recap the Pathways to Success section:

• The habits, practices, and pathways we choose to develop each day can rewire our brains, for better or worse.
• Choosing to live with a growth mindset means you're more likely to learn from your mistakes and gain new insights along the way.
• Lifelong learning as a way of life requires daily practice, time, and patience.

Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Lifelong learning. In Dictionary.com dictionary. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/lifelong-learning

Fairbanks, B. (2021, August 4). 10 helpful habits to develop a lifelong learning mindset. PhoenixBlog. https://www.phoenix.edu/blog/develop-lifelong-learning-mindset.html?_tt=8b75dfd8-1f9c-4554-b6b5-55e40ba3ebf8

TEDx Talks. (2020, August 14). Always a life-long learner | Maia Reed | TEDxLakelandUniversity [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/DDPiqw9TBVw