The Life-Long Learning Compass: Curating Collective Wisdom for Action Towards a Shared North Star for the Future of Work and Learning

Abstract

The Future of Work and Learning looks bleak to some, incites worry in others and signals an opportunity for widespread education and workforce innovations and invention in others. Unfortunately, the latter are counted among the few. With staggering realities that more than 50% of jobs will be forever transformed by automation. Or the fact that 65% of the jobs that Generation Alpha will work in don’t even exist today; many are grappling with ‘how will we prepare learners for the Future of Work and Learning, if we do not know what to expect?’ How do we ensure that our most vulnerable people are not disproportionately devastated by the rapid innovations and changes? What is a solution that is accessible to- and inclusive of many communities no matter their resource constraints?

The future is surely bright, not bleak, and here is a solution. First, we ignite and accept a paradigm shift in education which will bring with it new mental models for thinking about learning and even workers. This paradigm shift calls for us to see learning as lifelong, continuous and a journey. Given the inevitable changes and amount of unknowns that comes with rapid development, technological advancements —and just about any journey— we then anchor in the only variable that remains constant throughout all of this uncertainty, which is the human being and the essence of our humanity. The solution is to equip ourselves for this journey the way we would prepare for any other. By identifying and locating our ‘true north star’ and equipping ourselves with a compass to navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead. Just as with any journey, we can navigate individually, in small teams or as an entire community, the point is that we are prepared with The Lifelong Learning Compass in hand.

Distinctly crafted with dual-transformational aspirations (transform people to transform systems and vice-versa) The Lifelong Learning Compass was designed to guide, support and develop the unique characteristics and competencies of each worker and learner. It begins by asking “who are we serving (through teaching and learning)?” To tailor and personalize the learning experience. Then it proceeds to ask why we are learning? And how do we support learner and worker individual and collective development? It is through the magnetization of these human centered cardinal points, that are anchored in an holistic view of those we serve, that we begin to navigate the journey ahead. The Lifelong Learning Compass illuminates that the journey forward calls for our eyes to be fixed with fidelity to our collective ‘true north.’ Which is that throughout learning and life; people should be seen, affirmed, ‘in-powered’ and protected, to activate the most powerful bi-directional force on earth, which is love!