Electronic Education and Lifelong Learning

Due to de-institutionalization and open system, it is inappropriate to equate education with youth education. In the new century, education has been delivered electronically to accommodate lifelong learning. It has become a reality that the four walled classrooms have been used to complement and supplement E-learning. No need to argue that electronic education has become the norm for most universities and organizations including governmental agencies. For any providers of education to remain highly competitive, they must engage in electronic education by “breaking down” the four walls of the traditional classroom. Lifelong learning has become the impetus resulting in the extensive and intensive application of electronic education. DOI: 10.4018/javet.2013010104 International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 4(1), 46-60, January-March 2013 47 Copyright © 2013, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Lifelong Learning through E-Learning Today, people live in what could be termed a knowledge society (Jarvis, 2001). In a knowledge society, there has been a tendency to treat the term: Lifelong learning as being synonymous with lifelong education. In fact, lifelong learning and lifelong education are totally different terms. Lifelong learning can be defined as follows: (1) The process of learning which occurs throughout the life span; and (2) The learning that occurs variously in formal institutions or education and training, and informally, at home, at work, or in the wider community. Learning emphasizes the person in whom the change occurs or expected to occur. Learning is the act or process by which behavioral change, knowledge, skills, and attitudes are acquired whereas education is an activity undertaken or initiated by one or more agents that is designed to effect changes in the knowledge, skill, and attitudes of individuals, groups, or communities. Once the difference between learning and education is clarified, the meanings of lifelong learning and lifelong education become selfexplanatory) is a must. People learn at every waking minute (Gagne, Wager, Golas, & Keller, 2005). Also in a knowledge society, knowledge increases at an exponential rate. By the time a student graduates from a program/department, half of the knowledge she/he knows may become “obsolete.” In essence, distance education can be defined as any form of education in which the teacher and the learner are separated in either time or space. Distance education was formerly called home study, and then correspondence education. Later, distance education was delivered via Radio and TV broadcast in different countries. Currently, more distance education is delivered via internet and computer communications technologies. In the United Kingdom (U.K.) a popular distance education is operated through the Open University. Since its inception in 1969, it has grown and is now the U.K.’s largest educational institution. Over two (2) million students from all over the world have studied with The Open University. Called ‘supported open learning’, students experience learning by reading text, watching videos, DVDs or videos online or by listening to audio materials. In addition, students work on assignments and activities provided by the instructor. They experience the sense of community by interacting with other students in the program through study groups and online conferencing (The Open University, 2012). Since the creation of the Open University in the United Kingdom, many other distance education universities have been born in the world. A specific example of this type of university is Anadolu Open University of Turkey which currently has over one million students. Students learn from an array of media: Printed materials, radio and television programs, video conferences, computer based materials and audio materials. Additionally students have access to live television broadcasts specifically designed for students to prepare for exams. Students can call in and speak to advisors. Anadolu Open University prides itself in providing a student-centered environment and all learning materials have been designed specifically for the students to learn on their own (Anadolu Open University of Turkey, 2012). Distance education has been viewed as a way in which to offer lifelong learning to those who are geographically separated from traditional institutions, have obligations that limit their ability to attend regular courses or have other exceptional challenges (Schrum, 2000). In the new century, E-learning or electronic education has almost replaced distance education with the advent of web 2.0 technologies. Like traditional age learners, many nontraditional age learners have become what we call “netizens”, roaming the web to take classes to get certificates or degrees for professional development or to reenter employment. Distance education has evolved from passive media (paper, audio and video broadcast) to internet network and communication technologies. And it has the capability to deliver courses to large numbers of learners anywhere anytime (King, 2006). Regarding the omnipotent nature of distance education, King (2006, p. 16) has this to say: 13 more pages are available in the full version of this document, which may be purchased using the "Add to Cart" button on the product's webpage: www.igi-global.com/article/electronic-education-lifelonglearning/76915?camid=4v1 This title is available in InfoSci-Journals, InfoSci-Journal Disciplines Library Science, Information Studies, and Education, InfoSci-Select, InfoSci-Educational Leadership, Administration, and Technologies eJournal Collection, InfoSci-Select, InfoSci-Select, InfoSci-Journal Disciplines Computer Science, Security, and Information Technology. Recommend this product to your librarian: www.igi-global.com/e-resources/libraryrecommendation/?id=2