Lifelong Learning: The Key to Being a Good Educator

Since I began my degree at Dominican University to become a librarian, the important skill of lifelong learning has become more and more valuable to me, both as a student and as a future library instructor.

What is lifelong learning? It's a nice enough phrase, but in truth, I believe it is more than simply choosing to gain new skills after one's formal education has ended. Lifelong learning involves adapting to change, embracing new realities, and expanding one's worldview to become a more open-minded person both professionally and personally. Lifelong learning also involves having a more positive and inquisitive mindset, finding new ways to challenge oneself, and, my personal favorite, making time to read.

Image Source: Pinterest "Spiderman into the Spiderverse"

Used in my first blog post!

Take my experience as an example: this time last year, I was wary of using new technology, like Canva, Bookshare, Duolingo, or Seesaw, even if it would improve my teaching! Learning and executing a presentation in a platform I wasn't familiar with was daunting, especially in front of an entire class. However, one of the most valuable things I've learned from working with technology, is that it, like me, is constantly updating and learning. Not only that, but students, too, are constantly rethinking the way technology functions for them, even more so if educators have a hand in their understanding of it.

One of the most important concepts library instructors teach is the importance of information literacy, how information is created, distributed, and the value it has, especially in regard to who receives it. Information literacy is also a set of skills I teach students to develop to determine whether or not information sources are reliable, or just very convincing. Below is an example I've used in the past:

Image Source: WIRED "Fake News?"

This image claims to be a photograph of President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt riding a moose, and I challenge students to try and determine whether or not this image is real, or fake. With AI generated images becoming more widespread and with fake news and real news being called into question in our political climate, it's important for students to be able to use technology to their advantage to determine the truth. Including compelling images like these, or TikTok trends questioning whether Helen Keller was real or not have direct relevance to the lives of students.

Just as significant to these real life, relatable examples is how the information is presented. Encouraging students to collaborate with one another and engage with the content on your PowerPoint screen is a far more successful way to teach than to simply read off your blank screen at them. Technology is a vital part of the classroom not only because it's already an integral part of students daily lives, but also because, when it's used correctly, it can expand the creativity within a classroom.

If educators are to commit to lifelong learning, a huge part of that is dedicating themselves to using technology well daily to serve as role models for their students, and better reach them. If students are consistently shown the benefits of using technology smartly, and can see that you, too, are learning as their teacher, then you've created a generation of lifelong learners, and skilled adapters.